The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry
Part two: The Solution
Hint: the Solution isn’t More Time (1|2)
Pages 61-68
TOGETHER read the book (END READING AT: Many of us need to hear those same words and find freedom in them.)
then the following scriptures slowly and attentively.
INDIVIDUALLY take notes in your journal on what stands out.
Haggai 1:5-9 (NIV) Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. You have planted much, but harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” This is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build my house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored, ” says the LORD. “You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?” declares the LORD Almighty. “Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with your own house.
Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV) Be very careful, then, how you live —not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
GROUP DISCUSSION:
Share just one or two things that stood out to you while reading the book and/or scripture. (try to keep it brief)
TOGETHER pray for one another.
INDIVIDUALLY answer the questions in your journal - process your notes and pray.
Reread Haggai 1:5-9 (above)
Whose house are we focused on building, God’s or our own?
What about the resources we steward, what is our heart-attitude towards them?
How often do we think about our ways vs God’s ways?
The solution is not more time. Even if God were to alter the structure of the universe to give you ten more hours in a day, what would you likely do with those ten hours? Whatever you did, you’d likely end up more exhausted than you already are. The solution to an overbusy life is not more time. It’s to slow down and simplify our lives around what matters.
What is your reaction to that statement?
When, Where, and How and where are you overbusy?
If you were granted ten extra hours what would you do?
So the scripture says in Haggai that we are to give careful thought to our ways and Ephesians says to be wise in how we live. Comer reminds us that we are born with potential and limitations.
As you read through his ten examples which ones resonated most with you?
Pause and pray - invite the Holy Spirit to show you the truth about your limitations. The world will point to your limitations and declare “not enough” but the wisdom of a mature believer can say “yes, and praise God - I can’t - He can.” Journal some thoughts about your potential, limitations, how you steward time, and whose house you are trying to build.
Extra Reading:
After refusing as a young man to write a bill of sale for a slave, Woolman went on to play a key role in challenging Quakers to give up slavery and recognize it as unchristian. Thanks to the active faith of Woolman and others, Quakers played an important role in the abolition movement throughout the nineteenth century.
“The only Christian way to treat a slave is to set him free.”
- John Woolman (1720 - 1772)