In an age that prizes efficiency and measurable outcomes, "busyness" has gradually become a marker of identity, and "success" a common measure of worth. This value system not only shapes the workplace but has also quietly made its way into church life. Many Christians devote themselves wholeheartedly to work and ministry, yet often at the cost of strained family relationships, inner restlessness, and even spiritual emptiness.
Billy's story unfolds against this backdrop. For a long time, he lived in a constant state of doing—seeking to prove his faithfulness and value through effort, results, and ministry. A profound inner awakening, however, led him to a different path: from striving to "do" more to learning how to "be"—from relentless activity to a renewed understanding of identity. This shift not only restored his family relationships but also reshaped his grasp of the heart of Christian faith.
Lives Defined by Busyness: The Shared Struggle of Workaholics and Ministry Activists
Billy observes that two familiar patterns often appear among contemporary Christians.
One is the workplace "workaholic." Such individuals pour immense time and energy into their careers, hoping to secure a sense of worth through performance, position, and recognition. On the surface, they are often admired. Yet in moments of solitude, many find themselves haunted by an unspoken emptiness.
The other is the "ministry-driven" churchgoer. Highly devoted to church service, they preach, visit, organize, and lead—rarely slowing down, especially on weekends. While their intentions may be sincere, the cost is often similar: neglected families and a subtle form of spiritual pride, as though God's work somehow depends on them.
Although these two patterns differ in form, they share the same inner logic: trying to define one's being through doing and one's value through outcomes. When diligence is no longer a response to grace but becomes an inability to stop, when ministry turns into a platform for self-validation, faith quietly shifts from trusting God to relying on oneself.
Billy points to an ancient deception at the root of this struggle—the desire to be "like God," capable of controlling outcomes and securing approval. Busyness and productivity become tools for managing life, earning recognition, and even seeking God's favor. The result is often exhaustion and spiritual distortion, resembling the "elder brother" who stayed at home yet never truly entered the joy and rest of the Father's love.
A Foundational Reversal: Being Comes Before Doing
Reflecting on his own journey, Billy emphasizes a decisive turning point: being precedes doing—and ultimately matters more.
The core of faith lies not in how much one does for God, but in who one is in God. God reveals Himself as "I AM," the source of all being. Human beings are created first as spiritual beings, bearing God's image, and through redemption are called to live as children of God.
Billy recalls a verse that deeply shaped his understanding: "Should you then seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them… but wherever you go, I will let you escape with your life. (Jeremiah 45:5)" To him, this passage reveals a crucial truth: God's primary intention is to preserve and bless our lives, not to use our work for His purposes. He desires to protect and bless life—not to use our accomplishments as instruments.
When believers insist on doing "great things" for God, even seemingly spiritual pursuits can become subtle traps. By contrast, when the focus shifts to abiding in relationship with Him, life itself becomes something God protects, sustains, and blesses.
The Rhythm of the Kingdom: Walking With God Through Rest
The rhythm of the world demands constant motion and resists stopping. God's rhythm, however, includes rest. After creation, He established the Sabbath—a sacred pause from doing, an intentional return to being. It is a reminder that the world continues without us, and God's work does not depend on any individual.
Billy believes that much of the unceasing busyness among Christians reflects a neglect of this divine command. People fear that if they stop, everything will fall apart—and with it, their sense of value. He himself once lived under this anxiety.
Yet as he learned to surrender in rest, he discovered that God's work was never hindered by his stopping. Instead, God continued His work—sometimes through others, sometimes directly—and often with greater beauty and completeness than Billy could have achieved on his own.
From Judging Good and Evil to Living in Love: A New Operating System
Drawing from his background in information technology, Billy describes human inner life as operating on a kind of "system." After the fall, humanity has largely functioned on a system centered on judging good and evil—constantly evaluating, comparing, and measuring success and failure.
Even spiritual service, under this system, can become about doing the "right," "successful," or "rewarding" things, while the heart remains restless and judgmental.
The kingdom of God, however, he said, calls for a different operating system—the system of love. Its core is not performance but relationship; not right and wrong, but grace. Jesus' prayer of forgiveness on the cross and Stephen's words at his martyrdom reveal a life that moves beyond justice into mercy, beyond retaliation into grace.
The cross dismantles the illusion of earning righteousness through works and breaks down rigid moral divisions. When believers are truly rooted in this love, the motivation for service shifts—from "I have to" to "because I love, I choose."
Transformation Through Suffering: When All Things Work Together
In Billy's church, a sister named Grace once battled cancer. From a worldly perspective, the illness was tragic. Yet through faith, her life underwent a profound transformation. She continued to lead worship but no longer relied primarily on passion or skill. Her worship carried a deeper spiritual authenticity, widely recognized by the congregation.
Billy also shared that his wife experienced a similar illness. Such suffering appears purely destructive by human standards, yet in God's hands, it can become a means of humility, refinement, dependence, and grace.
("Billy" and "Grace" are used as pseudonyms for safety reasons.)
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited by Poppy Chan
