So Much To Do, So Little Time
By Cate Russell-Cole
Many people have a great problem managing time. These days it
rarely seems a case of laziness, rather too much to be done, too
many demands and too little time. "Techno stress" and
"information fatigue syndrome" are becoming the prognosis for
some of the tensions of the nineties. Top authorities on the
"psychology of technology," Michelle Weil, and Larry Rosen,
believe that, "in the past decade we have seen technology invade
our home, our cars, our movie theatres, our grocery stores, our
jobs, literally every place in our lives. Every innovation -
from cell phones to e-mail, from faxes to websites - demands new
skills, speedier reaction times, creativity on call 24 hours a
day. Technology keeps coming at us and we are told that we must
adapt or fall behind." This is an incredible amount of pressure
to be carried by anyone.
I once heard someone preach a harrowing sermon on how God would
make you account for every second wasted in your life, every
moment you could have been doing something more productive. It
scared me at the time, but later as my mind came back onto an
even keel, I began to wonder if a giving God who gave us forests
and oceans to play in would be that harsh? Psalms talks of an
instance with Israel in which God, being full of compassion,
"...remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes
away and does not come again." 1 He did not execute
judgment on
His wayward people automatically, even though they were not
perfect enough in comparison with Him.
Apart from the time we spend with our loving God and preaching
the gospel, does every second have impending judgment hanging
over it? Ecclesiastes 3:12-13 presents as a purpose for life, "I
know there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do
good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and
drink and enjoy the good of all his labor - it is the gift of
God... (vs 17) ...for there is a time there for every purpose
and for every work." God has designated that our time should be
divided between work and play, there is a balance. We quite
often unwisely take on more than we should, trying to balance
our own expectations of ourselves with demands from others, then
also stuffing in what we perceive God expects of us. In doing
this, we overload easily, losing the ability to be still and
wait in a world where activity runs overtime.
In Isaiah there is a clear message regarding striving and
salvation. "For thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and
confidence shall be your strength.' " 3 "Woe to those who go
down to Egypt (the world) for help, and rely on horses (worldly
strength), who trust in chariots because they are many (like
technology has proliferated), and in horsemen because they are
very strong (other people), but who do not look to the Holy One
of Israel, nor seek the Lord!" 4 Science tells us that it is
when we are at rest that our bodies grow. Our spirits work on
the same principle. Back in chapter thirty, Isaiah tells us the
answer to determining what we should and shouldn't be doing come
from God, He will lead us in the path He has planned for our
lives if we look to Him for help and seek Him. "Your ears shall
hear a word behind you saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,'
whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the
left." 5
There is comfort in the words, "Have you not known? have you not
heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the creator of the ends of
the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is
unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have
no might He increases strength." 6 Why not trust your calendar
and expectations to the One who runs the universe? If anyone
should know what they are doing and what is best for His
creation, it is surely Him.
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1 Psalm 78:39 New King James Version
2 Matthew 6:19-21 and 33
3 Isaiah 30:15
4 Isaiah 31:1
5 Isaiah 30:21
6 Isaiah 40:28-29
Cate Russell-Cole
Email: virtual_desk@yahoo.com.au
