When Serving Jesus Becomes So Busy That We Forget to Sit With Him
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BEHOLD THE KING | Reflections on Following Jesus Christ
Have you ever stopped to consider why you do what you do for the Lord?
You attend church. You pray. You worship. You serve. You work, take care of your family, and try to fulfill your responsibilities. Before you realize it, years have passed.
Five years. Ten years. Perhaps even thirty years.
Then one day, something happens while you're reading Scripture. You encounter a passage you've heard before, but this time it makes you stop and ask: Have I really understood what Jesus has been teaching me? Have I become so busy serving Him that I've neglected to sit down and learn more about Him?
When Serving Becomes Our Routine
In Luke 10:38–42, Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. She was occupied with serving, while Mary sat at Jesus' feet and listened to His word. When Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help, He answered:
“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” — Luke 10:42, KJV
Jesus wasn't condemning serving. He was drawing attention to the importance of hearing Him. Our responsibilities matter, but our activities must never become a substitute for listening to His Word.
Is it possible to become so occupied with doing things for Jesus that we neglect taking time to learn from Jesus?
Even After Thirty Years, There Is Still More to Learn
Acts 18:24–28 describes Apollos as eloquent, fervent in spirit, and mighty in the Scriptures. Yet Aquila and Priscilla took him aside and explained the way of God to him more perfectly.
“...they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” — Acts 18:26, KJV
A man mighty in Scripture still had something to learn. Whether we have served the Lord for three months or thirty years, we should remain willing to receive instruction.
You can be experienced in serving God and still be growing in your understanding of how to follow Him.
Knowing Jesus as Lord and Living Under His Lordship
We often say, “Jesus is Lord.” But have we considered what that means for our decisions, ambitions, and everyday conduct?
“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” — Luke 6:46, KJV
Our plans and responsibilities are not automatically wrong. But are we allowing Christ and His Word to govern them? There is a difference between asking God to bless the life we have planned and learning to yield that life to His will.
Surrender Begins With a Willingness to Learn
Jesus said:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” — Matthew 11:29, KJV
Notice those words: “learn of me.”
Surrender isn't only about giving something up. It also involves receiving Christ's instruction and learning to follow Him. We do not have to pretend we understand everything. We can ask questions, open our Bibles, and encourage one another as we grow.
Come, Sit With Me. Let's Talk About Jesus.
Imagine sitting around a table with a few friends. Someone has a cup of coffee. Another has an open Bible. One person shares something they've learned, a young adult asks a question, and someone else admits, “I've never thought about that before.”
There is no competition over who knows the most. There is simply a willingness to look into Scripture and encourage one another to follow Jesus Christ.
The same Jesus who died for our sins, was buried, and rose again according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15:1–4). The same Jesus Peter proclaimed as both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). The same Jesus who calls us to hear His Word and follow Him.
So perhaps today's question is not only, What more can I do for the Lord? It is also, Am I continuing to learn from the Lord I serve?
Take time to open the Bible—not merely to complete another religious obligation, but to learn of Jesus Christ. No matter how long we've served Him, there is still room to grow.
Behold the King.
A Closing Reflection
Have I become so accustomed to serving Jesus Christ that I have neglected to spend time learning from Him?
Scripture for further reading: Luke 10:38–42; Acts 18:24–28; Matthew 11:28–30; Luke 6:46.
About the Author: Leon Bess is the author of BEHOLD THE MAN — MANHOOD'S COVENANT: The Groundwork Before You Own It and founder of Bess Covenant Publishing. His writing reflects on biblical discipleship, covenant faithfulness, and following Jesus Christ.
BEHOLD THE KING Reflections is a developing series of Scripture-centered reflections by Leon Bess, published by Bess Covenant Publishing.