An Enemy Named Busy | Luke 10:38-42 | Gary Hamrick

Oct 11, 2021

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritizing Jesus Above the Demands of the Day

In the midst of our endless lists and responsibilities, the most vital choice we can make is to sit at the feet of Jesus. This is not an act of laziness, but one of profound necessity. The world will always present urgent tasks, but only one thing is truly needed. Choosing to listen to His word and be in His presence is the good part that will never be taken from us. It is the foundation upon which a peaceful and ordered life is built. [16:04]

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 ESV)

Reflection: What is one practical adjustment you could make to your daily or weekly routine to create more consistent, unhurried time to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His word?

Day 2: The High Cost of a Distracted and Anxious Life

Busyness often masquerades as productive service, but it can quietly become a spiritual enemy. This distraction leads to a life marked by worry and trouble over many things, pulling our focus away from what matters most. It is a state of being where we are so consumed by what has to be done that we miss the joy of simply being with Christ. This anxiety can cause our most important relationships to suffer. [10:14]

Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (Matthew 6:34 ESV)

Reflection: Where in your life have you recently seen the fruit of anxiety or distraction, and what would it look like to intentionally bring that specific area to the Lord in prayer instead of carrying the burden yourself?

Day 3: Cherishing Family Through Intentional Time

Our drive to provide and achieve can inadvertently sacrifice the very people we are working for. A career or other demanding pursuits can create a vicious cycle where we are absent from the ones who need us most. This is not merely about providing quality time, but committing to quantity of time. It often requires making difficult and counter-cultural choices to safeguard these precious relationships. [21:49]

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. (1 Timothy 5:8 ESV)

Reflection: Considering the current pace and demands of your life, what is one specific way you could create more meaningful space this week for your spouse or children, even if it means saying no to something else?

Day 4: The Vital Practice of Scheduling Pauses

A well-ordered life requires intentional rest, just as music requires rests to maintain its tempo. We must proactively schedule pauses into our calendars, treating them as sacred appointments that are not to be crowded out. This is an act of stewardship, acknowledging our human limits and our need to recharge. These pauses allow us to catch our breath and prevent the burnout that comes from a relentless pace. [30:21]

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. (Mark 6:31 ESV)

Reflection: Looking at your calendar for the next month, where could you intentionally block off time for a pause, and how would you like to use that time to truly rest and reconnect with the Lord?

Day 5: Stewarding Your Time by Learning to Say No

The ability to say no is a spiritual discipline that protects our God-given priorities. We each have the same twenty-four hours, and how we fill them reflects what we truly value. Rather than claiming we don’t have time, we must learn to discern if a request is a good use of the time God has entrusted to us. This means seeking God’s wisdom to commit to what He has for us and graciously decline what does not align. [35:44]

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 ESV)

Reflection: What is one commitment or activity in your life that, upon reflection, may not be the best use of your time, and what would be a gracious and honest way to step back from it?

Sermon Summary

Luke 10:38–42 is used as a lens to expose a common spiritual hazard: the idol of busyness. In the household of Mary and Martha the contrast is stark — Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, unhurried and attentive to his Word; Martha is distracted, anxious, and consumed with tasks. The portrait given is not a praise of sloth nor a celebration of frantic service, but a warning that the good work of serving can become an enemy when it crowds out communion with Christ. Busyness steals time, fractures families, erodes friendships, and dulls spiritual discernment; Jesus’ gentle rebuke to “Martha, Martha” is an indictment of a life governed by worry and a call back to what will not be taken away: the “one thing” of presence with the Lord.

Practical application flows directly from that diagnosis. Time must be managed by gospel priorities: intentional rhythms of prayer and Scripture, not perfunctory checklists. Family receives urgent attention as a stewardship too often sacrificed to career and noise; the preacher urges sacrificial simplicity so one parent can be present during childrearing seasons when possible. The discipline of scheduled pauses — written on calendars as sacred appointments — is proposed as a countercultural act that prevents life from becoming nonstop motion. Friendships are framed as spiritual formation, not mere recreation; they sharpen, support, and correct. Finally, the ability to say no is offered as a spiritual skill: refusing good but distracting things in order to keep what is truest.

The theology is simple and sober: time is a gift from the Lord and must be stewarded for his glory. The gospel does not condemn work, but it subordinates work to worship. If Satan cannot make a person openly wicked, he will often make that person merely busy. The corrective is not legalism but reordering — letting Jesus direct steps so life is lived with clarity, presence, and gospel-shaped priorities. The call is to examine schedules, make hard choices, and cultivate the habits that keep one sitting at Jesus’ feet rather than running from room to room in a house never satisfied.

Key Takeaways

1. Prioritize sitting at Jesus' feet Jesus’ commendation of Mary shows that learned presence with him trumps urgent tasks. The posture of listening reorients motives, clarifies calling, and supplies the wisdom to do the right work at the right time. When Scripture and prayer order the day, tasks become servants rather than masters. [14:56]
2. Cherish time with spouse and children Family presence is a stewardship, not merely an emotional accessory to success; long hours earned at work can cost the shaping of souls at home. Sacrificial adjustments — even temporary financial tightening — can preserve formative seasons that cannot be reclaimed. Children and spouses need not only quality but quantity of time to flourish. [21:26]
3. Schedule regular pauses and rests Pause is a discipline that prevents frantic drift; when rest is calendared it becomes a boundary, not an empty wish. Intentional breaks sustain spiritual attention and mental health, enabling better decision-making and preventing burnout. Treat rest appointments as sacred to protect them from being crowded out. [29:52]
4. Nurture friendships for mutual sharpening Friendship is spiritual formation by proxy: honest companions reveal blind spots, model faithfulness, and sustain joy. Isolated productivity creates brittle souls; mutual encouragement produces gospel resilience. Invest in friends who will both delight with you and rebuke for your good. [32:31]
5. Learn to say no with conviction Saying no is not mere refusal but a stewardship move: it protects the finite hours for what matters most. The refusal should be framed honestly — this is not the best use of my time — rather than the passive “I don’t have time.” Boundaries free people to live with intentionality instead of reactive overwhelm. [35:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:34] - Reading Luke 10:38–42
[02:36] - Introducing “An Enemy Named Busy”
[03:16] - Opening Prayer and Purpose
[04:09] - Mary and Martha in Scripture
[05:15] - Contrasting Personalities
[07:22] - Martha’s Distraction and Anxiety
[09:52] - Who Invited Jesus?
[12:14] - How Busyness Steals Time
[14:56] - Prioritize Sitting at Jesus’ Feet
[17:31] - Practical Rhythms for Prayer
[21:26] - Cherish Family: Presence Over Career
[29:52] - Schedule Pauses and Rests
[32:31] - Incorporate Friendships
[35:03] - Learn to Say No
[37:22] - Closing Prayer and Challenge

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading
Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Observation questions

What two contrasting postures toward Jesus are described in Luke 10:39–40?
According to Jesus’ response in verse 41, what two words describe Martha’s inner state?
What practical suggestion was given for intentionally creating space for rest in a busy schedule? [30:21]
How did the message describe the common result when we fail to order our day with seeking the Lord? [19:52]

Interpretation questions

Jesus said only “one thing is necessary” (v. 42). In the context of this story, what is that one thing, and why can it not be taken away?
The sermon stated, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” [13:32] How can busyness function as a spiritual strategy of the enemy?
Why is saying “I don’t have time” considered an inaccurate and unhelpful response to a request? What is a more truthful alternative? [35:20]
How does the example of Mary “sitting at Jesus’ feet” provide a model for daily Christian living, beyond just a one-time event?

Application questions

“Martha, Martha” – if Jesus were to say your name twice today, what specific worry or distraction might He be addressing? What would it look like to choose the “good portion” in that area this week?
Family presence is a stewardship. [21:26] What is one practical, non-financial adjustment you could make to increase either the quantity or quality of time with your spouse or children?
Pauses must be scheduled like sacred appointments. [30:21] Where can you block off time for rest or reflection in your calendar over the next month? What will you guard it against?
Friendships are for mutual sharpening, not just recreation. [32:55] Who is one person you can intentionally reach out to this week for encouragement or accountability?
Saying “no” is a stewardship move. [35:03] What is one “good” thing you need to decline to protect time for the “best” thing God has for you?
How could starting your day with prayer and Scripture change the pace and focus of your responsibilities? What time and place will you set for this?
The Lord directs the steps of the godly. What is one decision about your time or schedule you need to bring to Him in prayer for direction?

Sermon Clips

49s

#EnemyNamedBusy

“There are regular demands on our time that can sometimes make life crushing and consequently, a lot of things suffer in our lives because we are so busy. Marriages suffer, your health can suffer, relationships with children can suffer, relationships with friends, and most importantly your relationship with Christ. Because when we're too busy that all those things get squeezed out to whatever leftover time we have which isn't much, then we find how many of those things end up suffering in our lives which is why I entitled this teaching an enemy named busy. Someone once said this, if Satan can't make you bad, he'll make you busy.”

20s

#Same24HoursDaily

“Every single one of us has been given the same twenty four hour time period every single day by God. The question is how are you going to use those twenty four hours that God has given you? So don't say I don't have time because you do. The real answer should be something like, I don't believe that that's a good use of my time.”

31s

#LordOrderMySteps

“So when you hear Jesus in this story saying Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. Ask yourself, would he be would he have said my name in that challenge? Can you hear Jesus saying your name instead of Martha's name? You are worried and troubled about many things. Because if so, back to what I quoted earlier from Psalm thirty seven twenty three, then let our prayer simply be, Lord, order my steps.”

41s

#ScheduleIntentionalPauses

“Time is a gift that God has given us. We must manage it carefully. Number three, schedule pauses. Just like a musical chart, there are pauses or rests in order to catch your breath or to keep the song at a certain tempo. And so we must intentionally put pauses or rests into our schedule. And I'm not talking about vacations, although that's vital too. I'm talking about not cramming so much into your day or into your week, but actually scheduling a pause on your calendar like it's an important appointment because it is.”

37s

#SitAtJesusFeet

“So when Mary sits here at Jesus' feet and just listens to his word, this is a reminder to us about the importance of spending time in prayer and reading your bibles. Not just on Sundays and Wednesdays, but all through the week. Now how does that look for you and me? Like, in practical ways. How does it how does it look to sit at Jesus' feet to to to drink in his word, spend time in prayer? Well, you know, I I don't know how it works for you, but it has to be something that we're intentional about. For some, maybe you're an early riser, get up early, take your bible to a quiet place, and read and pray.”

37s

#CareerCanStealFamily

“We talk about carving time and and ordering our steps. Too many marriages and relationships with children have been sacrificed on the altar of busyness. And one of the biggest culprits is a career. The drive for that career. Now I I know I know the vicious cycle. What happens is you you want the career to help provide for the family, but then the career takes over your time and you're not there as much for your family.”

26s

#ChooseOneIncomeSeason

“But if I could just say to you from a pastoral heart, if at all possible, if at all possible, and I know sometimes it it just isn't, but if at all possible, tighten your belts and live off of tuna fish and ramen noodles and one income so that at least one parent can be home with kids when you're raising kids. It's important.”

25s

#StewardYourTimeWell

“The deal is we need to be asking God what he wants us to do with the time he has given us. Think of time like every precious thing God has given you because it is. It's a gift. The time that we have is a gift from God and we don't know how much time that we have. He does. And so we need to be good stewards or managers of the time that God has entrusted to us.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Cornerstone Chapel - Leesburg, VA This sermon · AI assistant

Who invited Jesus into the house?

What three symptoms characterize a busy life?

What five practices guard against being overly busy?

An Enemy Named Busy | Luke 10:38-42 | Gary Hamrick

Devotional

Day 1: Prioritizing Jesus Above the Demands of the Day

Day 2: The High Cost of a Distracted and Anxious Life

Day 3: Cherishing Family Through Intentional Time

Day 4: The Vital Practice of Scheduling Pauses

Day 5: Stewarding Your Time by Learning to Say No

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

An Enemy Named Busy | Luke 10:38-42 | Gary Hamrick

Share