Busy, Busy, Busy

Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last; but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
Proverbs 31:30 

Wouldn't it be nice to have everyone think of you whenever Proverbs 31:10-31 was read? At first glance, it may appear that the only thing we have in common with the woman of Proverbs is that we too are really, really busy. Lucille Ball once said, "If you want something done, ask a busy person." Sadly, this is too often true. Busy seems to be the valued lifestyle today, but what does God have to say about being busy? Recall Jesus' words to Martha during one of his visits: "You are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about" (Luke 10:41-42). While we are busy "doing," are we missing out on the real work God has asked us to do? Perhaps this woman of Proverbs 31 has more to teach us than just the virtues of staying busy. Looking closely, we see that she isn't really defined by her activities. Rather, this woman is defined by something much more substantial than a busy schedule or a long list of accomplishments. What do her husband (v. 11), her servants, the poor and the needy (vv. 15, 20), the community (v. 24), and her children (v. 28) find so magnetic about this woman? Her character qualities shine! When we examine our relationships, do we find them to be built on trust, generosity, dependability, and respect? Sometimes it may seem easier to work on our image rather than our relationships, but God wants us to be involved in people's lives, not just busy checking off tasks on a to-do list. It is an honorable goal to use our abilities to accomplish many things. But our larger challenge is to find ways to build healthy relationships while accomplishing worthwhile tasks. According to verse 30, what is the number one priority of the woman of Proverbs? Fear of the Lord dictates her daily to-do list. This kind of fear is a constructive fear that means acknowledging God's authority and allowing only God to order our lives. Some of us are prone to be people-pleasers, allowing the opinions of others to influence our choices and our moods. We easily forget that God's opinion of us is the only opinion that counts. God values us not because of what we accomplish but because of what he has accomplished for us in Jesus Christ. He wants to channel that same power, love, and grace through us each day. What a wonderful motivator to do our very best! Since our Lord loves us so much, we can relax and live our busy lives confidently and joyfully.