7 DANGERS OF THE HURRIED LIFE

The modern world suffers from "hurry-sickness".  We travel through life at a breakneck pace.  We multi-task, double-up and burn the candle at both ends.  

On the contrary, our Lord Jesus is busy but not hurried.  He is never hurried because He moves at God's command and not man's expectations.  

As John Wesley said: "I am never hurried because I never take in more than what I can do with calmness of spirit."

Our culture's obsession with busyness is not simply a schedule problem but a heart condition.  It is not just about how much we have to do on our schedule but it is about the state of our heart and the condition of our soul.  

There are some leaders who have lots to do but yet they are unhurried.  Conversely, they are others who are not doing much but yet come across as hurried and hassled.

In short, we can be busy but we do not need to be hurried.

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Here are 7 DANGERS OF THE HURRIED LIFE:

1.  A Hurried Life Hampers Our Relationship with God

Without spending extended time alone with God in silence, solitude and Sabbath; our relationship with God will become superficial and anaemic.

Luke 10: 36 is a classic example.  Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus and Martha was rushing about in the kitchen. 

At a cursory glance, we can walk away from Luke 10 with the idea that waiting is more important than working. 

But I think both are equally important.  In fact, if you were to ask me who I would prefer – Mary or Martha? My answer will be: “I prefer Martha before dinner and Mary after dinner.”

Someone has to get the meal done!

It is not that waiting is more important than working but rather waiting must come before working so that we are doing what we are called to do and not just any good thing that comes along.

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Ephesians 2: 10 – “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advanc3 for us to do.”

We then move from efficiency (do things right) to effectiveness (do the right things) to efficacy (do the right things that last).

2.  A Hurried Life Feeds Our "Approval Addiction"

When life moves at a hurried pace, we will seek validation and approval in a hurried way.  

This is why social media resonates with so many people.  We get instant "likes", the immediate "thumbs-up" symbols and the quick "smiley face" emoticons. 

There is now no need to invest in relationships anymore since we feel instant validation.  

But are we driven by God's call or man's "likes"?

3.  A Hurried Life Decreases Our Ability to Care

Relationships can only flourish under "carefree connection".  This is something hurried people do not have; the time to connect without rushing.  The more we rush, the less capacity we have to care.  Caring and hurrying cannot co-exit.

Charles de Foucauld once defined his life as: "Present to God...present to people". 

This means to be so unhurried that we can hear the whispers of God as we go through our daily routines.  

And to be so present to people (not just the likable people but also the not-so-likable people) that we can listen and not just hear, respond and not just react, feel and not just go through the motion of relating.

Question: Are you fully present?

4.  A Hurried Life Intensifies the Power of Temptation

When we are hurried and busy; our ability to recognize and resist temptation diminishes.  

When we are composed and anchored, we are more alert to our inner

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longings.  We are more able to live with delayed gratification.  We are able trust God's timing rather than Satan's prodding.

As leaders, there is always the temptation to tick the box and get things done and out of the way.  So we often don't take time to think things through.  We make hurried decisions today that we can reasonably make tomorrow.  And we often live to regret it!

5.  A Hurried Life Numbs Us From Injustice 

Hurry desensitizes!  When our lives move at freeway speed, we have no time or focus to consider things outside of our lane.  

We become desensitized to brokenness that is around us.  Our hearts are no longer broken by the things that break the heart of God.  If this is true in our lives; it is time to pause and feel.  

As a travel brochure reads: "What is life, if so full of cares; there isn't time to stop and stare?"

We don't just want to do acts of compassion but we want to do them in a compassionate way.  We cannot achieve this with a hurried soul.

Because hurriedness desensitizes! 

6.  A Hurried Life Promotes Superficiality and Dogmatism

Superficially is the curse of our age.  A hurried life promotes a shallow and narrow-minded spirituality because we have no time to think deeper into issues but we form quick judgments based on quick information.  

We get instant information on Goggle and form our conclusions based on knowledge but without wisdom.  We read one post on FB and start teaching on the subject with presumptuous authority.  Superficial knowledge without wisdom can be more dangerous than no knowledge.

Wisdom is slow but deep.  It cannot be microwaved but must be slow cooked.  Wisdom takes time and thoughtfulness to nurture.

7.  A Hurried Life Kills Purpose and Passion

In a hurried culture; purpose is derived out of what we do.  But God's idea of purpose is not about doing but it is about being.  

The ultimate purpose question is not "What do I do?" but "Who am

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I becoming?"  God is concerned about "who I am becoming" and not just "what I am doing".

CONCLUSION:

To be burnt-out is not our portion because we have an exhaustless supply in Jesus!

Burning out is not the consequence of giving until you have nothing but it is the result of giving out of nothing in the first place.  Before those we lead have learnt to feed on Jesus themselves; they depend on us.  

So be sure to get your supply from above before you give out of empty.  Be poured out for Jesus but remember to get your fresh supply!

Frank Powell:

"Feeling burnt out is not a badge of faithfulness.  So take your foot off the gas.  Slow down.  Your pace matters because the speed of your life reveals the driver of your soul.  So who is behind the wheel of your life?"

That's a good question...

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