Finding Peace in a Busy World

“Many shall run to and fro…” Daniell2:4

If you could describe the modem world with one word it would be a word like, ‘hectic,’ ‘the rat race,’ ‘the fat lane,’ or ‘the grind.’ Things seem to be moving faster and faster, and anyone who can’t keep up is in danger of being left behind. As you commute to and from work each day, everyone seems to be in a hurry to get to his or her prospective destination. Even while taking a holiday, or a family day out to a park, we always take our mobile telephones in case we need to be contacted. With the invention of the computers, technology has exploded and stepped up the pace of every duty in life with the invention of modem conveniences. We are able to cook fater, clean faster, get to our destinations faster, to do our shopping faster- what is the hurry? So we can get to other important and pressing duties, and pack more activities into one day. The amount of activity we sometimes try to accomplish in one day would have taken a week, 100 years ago. What are we hurrying to? Where are we going? Sometimes we don’t even know ourselves; we just seem to be in a hurry all the time along with everyone else.

Paul encourages us to lead a quiet life. “And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we conU11anded you;” 1Thess 4:11. How can we lead a quiet life when technology accelerates and increases the complexity of our lives? When a global economy makes everyone’s business our business?

HOW TO LEAD A QUIET LIFE

The challenge to lead a quiet life in a hectic world is not always an easy task To some it may seem impossible, but as believers in the Lord, we can take decisive steps that will benefit us personally and spiritually. Paul gives us important counsel in his exhortation to “work with your own hands.” The focus is not on ‘hands’ but on ‘your own’. It was not manual labour that Paul insisted on, but self-support. “For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat. For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. Now them that are such we commanded and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread.” 2 Thess 3:10-12.

An important step to leading a quiet and peaceful life is not, (as some may think), a life of ease and release from any responsibilities. This only creates unrest in the soul and leads to other sins. “Idle hands are the tools of the devil.” To quietly keep busy doing your own work, minding your own business in a relaxed manner, rather than in a frenzied manner will bring peace to the soul. Often the rush to finish one’s work is for the purpose of having time for leisure and recreation at the end of the day. However, this can be equally stressful if it involves rushing out and around to see friends after work or going shopping or playing intensive sport.

As far as quiet living, Paul was not talking about lowering the noise level, but rather to reducing needless distractions that take our minds off what is really important in life. It is easy to get busy with the things of this world and allow them to take priority over spiritual matters in our life. Just when we want to take time to pray and study, Satan suddenly brings to our mind some extremely pressing duties that need immediate attention and the prayer and study time is often cut short. We need to learn to priorities our many duties and put God first.

LIVING PEACEABLY

Paul goes on to counsel the believers to live peaceably with others without disturbance or conflict. In other places Paul writes, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Rom 12:18. “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:” Heb 12:14. Minding our own business and working for ourselves are both means to that end, of living peaceably with all men both inside and outside the faith.

How else can we live peaceably?

By avoiding quarrels and complaints, “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” Col. 3:13.

‘By refusing to take offence when others hurt us,” Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them” Ps 119:165.

By not getting entangled in risky business affairs of others, “My son, if thou be surety for thy friend, if thou hast stricken thy hand with a stranger, Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou are taken with the words of thy mouth.” Prov 6: 1,2.

And by humbly accepting the circumstances that God sends us for our good rather than grumbling, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28. Paul learned this lesson well so he knew what he was talking about. “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Phil 4:11-13.

SPIRITUAL LIVING

To be a follower of the Lord, we are required to live spiritual lives. Spiritual living brings peace and quietness to the soul, even if outward circumstances are turbulent. To live like this it requires setting priorities in our lives. What is really important to us? Is it spending time with our family or buying a new luxury car? Does our job encourage harmonious relationships with others or does it foster backstabbing and power- grabbing? Do we have time to respond to others’ needs, or are we too busy trying to supply our own?

Our habits and routines may be in tune with, or in conflict with, the spiritual values we hold. If we take time to think about it, we can usually recognize those patterns of behaviour that war against our desire to be spiritual as they disrupt our peace. We will be able to discern the duties Satan places before us to take our time away from our spiritual duties. In light of this, it is important that we consciously choose occupations, activities, and patterns of behaviour that promote, rather than interfere with, a spiritual lifestyle, bringing peace to the soul.

Does living spiritually mean talking and behaving in a certain way when you are with other Christians? Does it mean withdrawing from the hectic duties in the world and devoting ourselves to our spiritual disciplines like the Roman Catholic monks? Is this true peace.

There is really no mystery to it. Spirituality is simply living by spiritual values rather than being controlled by materialistic attitudes or concerns. It means living by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” When we put our relationship with the Lord at the centre of our lives, Christ’s values automatically will find expression in our daily lives and we will have peace. We must choose to have Christ control our lives and decide that we want to keep His law. He will give us the strength and power to be spiritual.

The struggle is to let spiritual values direct our lives when the momentary difficulties and demands of life threaten to consume our attention. How do we maintain perspective and put God first yet still deal with the concerns of daily living?

Peter wrote his second epistle with the expectation that he would soon die. He recognized the dangers of being drawn away from spiritual living by involvement in worldly affairs. Peter had some advice for the early Christians to help them maintain a balanced perspective necessary to spiritual living. One day the world will pass away. And for now, we should live with an eye to those things that will endure.

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blanleless.” 2 Peter 3: 10-14.

We are not to ignore what is going on around us and spend our time staring up into the sky as we wait for Christ’s return! He is trying to remind us that this world and everything in it is temporary. Don’t cling to the world and its goods. Instead of living for the moment, live for eternity. Then we will have true peace as we see everything in its right perspective in the light of eternity and we won’t get caught up in the rat race of this world.

Prayer is an important resource for spiritual living. Prayer allows us to experience closeness with God and recognize His presence in our lives. Prayer is a demonstration of our reliance on God. And prayer is practical, for in prayer we can communicate our daily needs and desires directly to the Lord and know that He will respond. We all need to take time alone with God in prayer daily to have strength for the duties of life, and to have peace and quietness in our soul.

TAKING TIME TO REST

One of the most important duties we need to fulfill in order to lead a peaceful and quiet life is to know when it is time to rest. Paul encouraged us to work, but we can’t work forever. While it is true that more people rust out rather than wear out, some will still wear out. There is danger that some can get in the rat race in doing the Lord’s work They are in a continuous frenzy of activity. While it is good work that they are doing, it is not the Lord’s will for them to be hustling here and there with no time to rest and recharge their batteries. It is equally wrong to over work. Ellen White was constantly reproving her husband for trying to do too much – for trying to do everyone else’s work as well as his.

From the life of Jesus we have His example. “Calling the twelve about Him, Jesus bade them go out two and two through the towns and villages… On this first tour the disciples were to go only where Jesus had been before them, and had made friends. … These disciples were to be heralds of the truth, to prepare the way for the coming of their Master. “DA 350/1.

“On returning from their missionary tour, ‘the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told Him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And He Said unto them, ‘Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.’ Mark 6:31.”
“The disciples came to Jesus and told Him all things. Their intimate relationship with Him encouraged them to lay before Him their favourable and unfavourable experiences, their joy at seeing results from their labours, and their sorrow at their failures, their faults, and their weaknesses. They had committed errors in their first work as evangelists, and as they frankly told Christ of their experiences, He saw that they needed more instruction. He saw, too, that they had become weary in their labours, and that they needed to rest.” DA 359.

“And He took them, and went aside privately into a desert place belonging to the city called Bethsaida.” Luke. 9:10.

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” Eccl. 3:1. Solomon makes a list of all things that happen in their set time and we could add to this list, ‘at time to work and a time to rest.’
“They had found much encouragement in their work; for Christ did not send them away without His Spirit. and by faith in Him they worked many miracles; but they needed now to feed on the Bread of Life. They needed to go to a place of retirement, where they could hold communion with Jesus and receive instruction for future work.

“Christ is full of tenderness and compassion for all in His service. He would show His disciples that God does not require sacrifice, but mercy. They had been putting their whole souls into labour to the people, and this was exhausting their physical and mental strength. It was their duty to rest… Like Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, like David among the hills of Judea, or Elijah by the brook Cherith; the disciples needed to come apar1 from the scenes of their busy activity, to commune with Christ, with nature, and with their own hearts.” DA 360. Jesus didn’t simply say it was their privilege to have a little time of rest; rather it \vas their dilly to rest.

“The rest which Christ and His disciples took was not self-indulgent rest. The time they spent in retirement was not devoted to pleasure seeking. They talked together regarding the work of God. and the possibility of bringing greater efficiency to the work. . Though Jesus could work miracles, and had empowered His disciples to work miracles, He directed His Worn servants to go apart into the country and rest. When He said that the harvest was great, and the labourers were few, He did not urge upon His disciples the necessity of ceaseless toil, but said, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest.” Mat. 9:38. God has appointed to every man his work, according to his ability (Eph. 4: 11- 13), and He would not have a few weighted \\iith responsibilities while others have no burden. no travail of soul” DA 36l/2

“In a life wholly devoted to the good of others, the Saviour found it necessary to withdraw from the thoroughfares of travel and from the throng that followed Him day after day. He must turn aside from a life of ceaseless activity and contact with human needs, to seek retirement and unbroken communion with His Father.

“Come ye yourselves apart,” He bids us. If we would give heed to His word, we should be stronger and more useful..
“In all who are under the training of God is to be revealed a life that is not in harmony with the world, its customs, or its practices; and everyone needs to have a personal experience in obtaining a knowledge of the will of God We must individually hear Him speaking to the heart. When every other voice is hushed, and in quietness we wait before Him, the silence of the soul makes more distinct the voice of God, He bids u.,;, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.’ Ps. 46:10. Here alone can true rest be found. And this is the effectual preparation for all who labour for God. Amid the hurrying throng, and the strain of life’s intense activities; the soul that is thus refreshed will be surrounded with an atmosphere of light and peace. The life will breathe out fragrance, and will reveal a divine power that will reach men’s harts” DA 363.

ENOCH

“Enoch was a preacher of righteousness, making known to the people what God had revealed to him. Those who feared the Lord sought out this holy man, to share his instruction and his prayers. He laboured publicly also, bearing God’s messages to all who would hear the words of warning. His labours were not restricted to the Sethites. In the land where Cain had Sought to flee from the divine Presence. the prophet of God made known the wonderful scenes that had passed before his Vision. . ..

“He was a tearless reprover of sin. While he preached the love of God in Christ to the people of his time, and pleaded with them to forsake their evil ways, he rebuked the prevailing iniquity and warned the men of his generation that judgment would surely be visited upon the transgressor… .

“The power of God that wrought with His servant was felt by those who heard… .

“In the midst of a life of active labour, Enoch steadfastly maintained his communion “,’ith God. The greater and more pressing his labours, the more constant and earnest were his prayers. He continued to exclude himself, at certain period.” from all society. Alter remaining for a time among the people, labouring to benefit them by instruction and example, he would withdraw, to spend a season of solitude, hungering and thirsting for divine knowledge, which God alone can impart. Communing thus with God, Enoch came more and more to reflect the divine image. This face was radiant with a holy ligl1t, even the light that shineth in the face of Jesus As he came forth from these divine communing even the ungodly beheld with awe the impress of heaven upon his countenance.” PP 86,87

JOHN THE BAPTIST

John the Baptist could have been trained in the rabbinical schools of his time as his father was a priest. But that was not according to God’s will. The education from those schools would not have prepared him for his lifework. He was called into the desert where he might learn from nature and from God. It was a quiet and lonely region where he lived, but it was his own choice to forgo the enjoyments and luxuries of life for the stern discipline of life in the wilderness. His spiritual life was uninterrupted by the clamor of the world. To him the solitude of the desert was a welcome escape from society. However he did not separate himself completely from society. Time to time he left his quiet retreat and went to the cities to mingle with men. He was a keen observer of the activities in the city and he especially studied the people. Someday he would have to bring these people a Very startling message, Through this quiet time in the wilderness his spiritual perceptions became very clear. He developed strength and decision of character through the aid of the Holy Spirit resist the power of Satan.

Although we all may not have the privilege of growing up in such a quiet atmosphere as did John, we all need to take tin1e out from the cities and go commune with God in the quiet wilderness areas. Thankfully in this world of sin, we still have a few places where we can escape the hustle of activities that we are engaged every day.

HOME IS A SANCTUARY

Each home should be a sanctuary from the busy world outside. Many who come home bring the outside world inside, however we should leave the world outside, and find rest, peace and happiness in the home. Home should be a place to rest and relax. We may not always have time to go out into nature to rest awhile like Jesus did with His disciples, however we should be able to come into our homes every evening to rest awhile, commune with God, and regain our spiritual strength for the next day’s duties.

“The very atmosphere of a truly Christian home is that of peace and restfulness.” AH 450. “By giving their children love, sympathy, and encouragement at home, parents may provide for them a safe and welcome retreat from many of the world’s temptations.” AH 185. “God wants the home to be the happiest place on earth, the very symbol of the home in heaven.” AH 102

“Cleanliness, neatness, and order are indispensable to the proper management of the household. But when the mother makes these the all- important duties of her life, and devotes herself to them, to the neglect of the physical development and the mental and moral training of her children, she makes a sad mistake.” AH 2l.

“Too many cares and burdens are brought into our families, and too little of natural simplicity and peace and happiness is cherished. There should be less care for what the outside world will say and more thoughtful attention to the members of the family circles Many need to learn how to make home attractive, a place of enjoyment.” AH 108.

MARTHA

“As Christ gave His wonderful lessons, Mary sat at His feet, a reverent and devoted listener. On one occasion, Martha, perplexed with the care of preparing the meal, went to Christ, saying, ‘Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.’ This was the time of Christ’s first visit to Bethany. The Saviour and His disciples had just made the toilsome journey on foot from Jericho. Martha was anxious to provide for their comfort, and in her anxiety she forgot the courtesy due to her Guest. Jesus answered her with mild and patient words, ‘Martha, Martha, thou are careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’ Mary was storing her mind with the precious words falling from the Saviour’s lips, words that were more precious to her than earth’s most costly jewels.

“The’ one thing’ that Martha needed was a calm, devotional spirit, a deeper anxiety for knowledge concerning the future, immortal life, and the graces necessary for spiritual advancement. She needed less anxiety for the things which pass away, and more for those things which endure forever. Jesus would teach His children to seize every opportunity of gaining that knowledge which will make them wise unto salvation. The cause of Christ needs careful, energetic workers. There is a wide field for the Marthas, with their zeal in active religious work. But let them first sit with Mary at the feet of Jesus. Let diligence, promptness, and energy be sanctified by the grace of Christ; then the life will be an unconquerable power for good.” DA 525.

There is a time to work and a time to rest. Both are needed for successful and peaceful living in this world. May God help us to find the right balance between the two so that we will not be caught up in the rat race of society, but can calmly do our daily duties, finding rest and refreshment in our ‘sanctuary’ apart from the busy life that we face in the world. AMEN