Technology has brought great blessings into our lives but it also has significantly sped up the pace of life. Our ability to produce and make things happen has never been greater, yet our ability to slow down and just be seems more challenging than ever.

Many of us are caught up in the speed of life. Our brains have sped up and our bodies are feeling anxious. As I thought about the way God designed things, I noticed a different pace. It takes babies roughly forty weeks before they are ready to be born. Seeds take months and even years to sprout and become beautiful trees. Food takes months to grow and hours to digest.

What are we to do in such a fast-paced world? We have to get our priorities straight. Luke 10:38–42 tells the story of Jesus and two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was busy and distracted with much serving. Noticing her sister’s neglect to help her, she ordered Jesus to tell Mary to get a move on. Jesus graciously pointed out her being anxious and troubled at many things and replied that one thing is (or possibly “few things” are) necessary. Jesus concludes, “Mary has chosen the good portion [being with Him], which will not be taken away from her.”

Martha had a high view of serving. Was this wrong? Of course not! The story Luke tells before this one is the parable of the Good Samaritan. This story highlights the importance of loving your neighbor and serving them with great mercy. However, to balance out that story, Luke tells us this one of Mary and Martha. Serving is great, but it does not take the place of simply being with Jesus. Darrell Bock states, “Time with Jesus is more important than preparing an elaborate meal for him. Sometimes the activity associated with ministry can prevent us from more important endeavors—such as hearing God’s word so that he can touch us (8:15, 21).”¹ Serving is important, but even more so is being with our Lord.

Having our priorities straight helps us to be filled human-beings in a human-doing culture. Let us slow down and be with the Lord. No one can take that away from you. And then let our doing come out of being with the Lord. May the slow and meaningful pace of being with the Lord take you through the different speeds of life you encounter.

Practical:

• Put your phone down and pick up your Bible first
• Turn off the music in the car and pray
• Go for a “being” walk instead of playing on a device
• Memorize a Bible verse in a slow and rich way
• Sit in one place and gaze upon the beauty of God as displayed in creation