01/06/2026
Sociologists featured in the Harvard Business Review suggest that, in todayโs world, being busy has become a modern status symbol, where having less free time is often equated with greater competence, ambition, and social standing. However, data compiled by the BBC tells a different story: the constant feeling of busyness is often self-imposed or driven by what is called modern โtime-squeezing.โ
As Christians, we are not immune to this struggle. In fact, it can sometimes be one of the enemyโs subtle strategiesโto keep us so distracted and occupied that we lose sight of what God truly desires for our lives. Scripture gently reminds us in Psalm 119:37 (NIV):
โTurn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word.โ
When we allow our focus to remain on what is temporary, we unknowingly distance ourselves from the life God wants for us. Sometimes, we donโt even realize it, but little by little, our hearts can grow cold toward what matters most. I remember watching a video in which a professor illustrated how misplaced priorities affect our sense of fulfillment. He asked us to imagine that our life is like a jar, and the things that fill it are stones of varying sizes, each representing the pursuits, relationships, and desires we believe will satisfy us.
If we begin by filling the jar with small stones, those trivial matters that bring only temporary value, we soon discover that there is no room left for the larger, more important stones. These โlarger stonesโ represent the things that truly matter: our relationship with God, our spiritual growth, our love for others, and our obedience to His Word. In the same way, when we fill our lives with endless tasks, distractions, and the constant pursuit of worldly success, we leave little room for Jesusโthe very One who gives our lives meaning and purpose.
The culture around us glorifies hustle and productivity, but Psalm 119:37 calls us to realign our focusโto ask God to redirect our vision away from anything โworthless,โ anything that does not lead us closer to Him. This does not mean that work, achievement, or ambition are inherently wrong. Rather, it is a matter of priority. As Jesus reminds us in Matthew 6:33, we are to โseek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.โ When we put Him first, everything else finds its rightful place.
Let this be our daily prayer: that God would guard our hearts and redirect our attention. Focus on what helps us run towards the life God prepared for us, and our eyes may not be captivated by distractions but instead be fixed on eternity with Jesus. May we choose what truly nourishes our spirit over what merely occupies our time. In the end, a full life is not measured by how busy we were but by how closely we walked with God. God bless us all!
