BUSY DOING WHOSE WORK?

Jesus came to give us a full, abundant life. Satan is a thief who desires to steal and kill and destroy. God wants us to enjoy life, and we do this by putting Him first. Satan's goal is to take our minds and hearts off Christ and steer us away from forming an intimate relationship with Jesus.

Not too long ago someone sent me this story. As I read it I wondered, "How much truth is found in this fictitious story?" Listen in as Satan gives direction to his evil angels on how to accomplish diverting our attention away from what's really important.

"Here's the plan," Satan exclaimed, "Keep them busy in the nonessentials of life and invent unnumbered schemes to occupy their minds. Tempt them to spend, spend, spend and borrow, borrow, borrow. Persuade the wives to work long hours and the husbands to work 6-7 days a week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their lifestyles. Keep them from spending time with their children. As their family fragments, soon their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work. Over stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still small voice.
    "Entice them to play the radio whenever they drive, to keep the TV, VCR, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their homes. And see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical, contradicting music constantly. Fill their coffee tables with magazines and newspapers. Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day. Invade their driving moments with billboards.
    "Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, sweepstakes, mail order catalogs, and every kind of newsletter and promotional, offering free products, services and false hopes. Even in their recreation, let them be excessive. Have them return from their vacation exhausted, disquieted and unprepared for the coming week. Don't let them go out into nature to reflect on God's wonders. Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, concerts and movies instead.
    "And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences and unsettled emotions. Let them be involved in soul winning. But crowd their lives with so many good causes that they have no time to seek power from Christ. Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

And so the evil angels went eagerly to their assignments, causing Christians everywhere to get busy, busy, busy and rush here and there. Has the devil been successful at his scheme? You be the judge.

Are you busy doing God's work or are you just busy?

See you in Bible class!

Ted Edwards

West-Ark Church of Christ, Fort Smith, AR
Bulletin Article, 12 September 1999


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