Child or servant?
How do you find the peace to be with God?
The Best Choice
Today I’d like to reflect with you on a topic that affects us all: how do I find the peace to be with God?
We all know the Bible story of two women who are friends of Jesus, each serving the Lord in her own way. It is the story of Martha and Mary, found in Luke chapter 10. Martha is in the kitchen, preparing the meal and taking care of the household. Because Jesus is coming, and everything must be in order. Once He arrives, she’s still busy. Her sister Mary has made a different choice. She says: the housework can wait; I’m taking time now to be with Jesus.
That latter choice is the best. That’s obvious. Being with Jesus is more important than working for Jesus. And yet—this is something we all struggle with. Because we are sometimes so busy with the work for God’s kingdom, with the church, with evangelism, with everything connected to our faith life, that this busy activity has displaced our quiet time with God. You then slowly change from a child of God into a servant of God. Someone who works for Him, instead of being with Him.
From a child to a servant of God.
When I think back to the time when my children were still small: it was always nice to play with them, to be busy together. But the best part was still that moment right before bedtime, when they would come sit with you for a moment. That intimacy between father and child, mother and daughter—that’s what it’s all about. Those are the quiet moments you need to seek out in your life. Moments that are hard to come by, but that define everything. Because it’s first and foremost about who you are, and not what you do.
I also notice that something can creep in when you’re busy with the affairs of the church and the kingdom of God. Then you start seeking people’s approval. You preach, you write, you visit people—and that slowly starts to become valuable to you. I hear that from many people around me, and anyone who is honest with themselves recognizes it too. I certainly do. But that’s not what matters. Not people’s approval, but God’s love and approval of you—that is what matters.
The same applies to results. In church circles, this is sometimes made a big deal of: so many baptisms, so many converts, so many activities. Fantastic! But are we honoring God with that? Or is that work ultimately focused on our own interests—the size of the church, the success of our projects? Those are honest questions we should ask ourselves.
Because when God says to you, “Come sit down for a moment, listen to Me”—that is far more important than anything we want or can do. By nature, we are inclined to always be busy. I notice it in myself. Before I quiet down and open the Bible, or take time for prayer, all sorts of thoughts come in: I still have to do this, I still have to do that, I need to call so-and-so. What a rush.
And sometimes I fall into that trap, doing those things first anyway—and later I regret it. Then I think: I should have given my time to God first. You can do so much, but if the connection with God isn’t there, it won’t bear good fruit.
Good fruit.
In John 15, the Lord Jesus speaks about the vine and the branches. If you want to bear fruit for the kingdom of God, then as a branch you must truly be grafted into that vine. By that I don’t mean that you let go of your ordinary life—you go to work, care for your children, have your obligations. But that connection with God, the active seeking of that connection with Him—make sure you truly experience it. Not just that you know it, but that you feel it and live it. Then the fruit of your work and your life will be great.
This is especially true for leaders: the greater your responsibility, the more you must seek silence. Because there are dozens of emails waiting, there are obligations in every direction, and before you know it, you’re so busy that you no longer have fellowship with God. I’ve seen many people burn out—pastors, leaders, people who were so consumed by their ministry that they ran themselves ragged. Bigger, more, the building, the finances—until they were completely worn out. That benefits no one. Not the church, and certainly not you and your family.
That is why it is so important that quiet time with God becomes a natural part of your life. Not just a mandatory item on your to-do list: checking off all the people I needed to bring to God. But a sincere focus on Jesus: “Lord, just as I am familiar with You, I want to share the things on my heart with You again today.” That is true fellowship with God—not an administrative task, but presence.
Even God took rest
God Himself also took rest. The first books of the Bible state that He spent six days creating life, and on the seventh day He rested. Whether God needs rest—I don’t know. His omnipotence is unimaginable. But it’s written there. And in that lies a message for us: take the time needed to find rest in God’s presence.
That also means: learning to say no. No to everything that comes your way. The enemy is always busy burdening God’s children with obligations. This still needs to be done, that still needs to be done. The more responsibility you bear, the louder that voice sounds. But God calls us to make a choice. To say: “No, Lord—I want to seek You first.”
Someone told me the following this week. He was in Brazil, on his way to church. The service was about to start, and he was already late. But across the street he saw someone walking—and he knew: I have to speak to that person. You then have two choices. You keep walking, because “the group” is waiting. Or you listen to the Holy Spirit and cross the street. He crossed the street. He took the time to bring that man to Jesus—because he was obedient to the voice of God in his heart, that voice which is more important than all the obligations in our path.
That is why I want to invite and challenge you to seek your rest in God. To make all the busyness, all the ambitions, and everything that comes your way secondary to your fellowship with the Lord. Is that easy? No, not at all. I can say from experience that there can be a lot on your desk and that obligations—in church and family—are manifold. But I’m also saying this to myself right now, as a reminder: take your time with God. Let your fellowship with the Lord be your priority, above everything else that comes your way
@wimvanputten