What Does It Mean to Waste Time with Jesus?
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By mere definition, wasting our time isn’t something we should cultivate. It seems contrary to the pressing calls for productivity and efficiency. We scroll through social media when we should be working, we play a game when we ought to be doing something productive. The more we waste our time, the less likely we are to earn our legacy, leave our mark, or make an impact. The world bombards us with messages declaring we are to be always on the go, always active, always producing.
Again, the account in Mark 1 is a wonderful example of this. In this account, we see an interesting contrast between the serenity and calmness of Jesus and the frenetic anxiousness of Peter. Mark records how Peter and his companions “hunted aggressively for him.” They run through the streets and alleys in a panic. All Peter could see was the demand for activity that was literally on their doorstep. Jesus had work to do, and any time not spent in such work was wasted time.
Jesus, however, carries no franticness. He is calm and reserved, simply declaring the direction the Spirit leads him. Jesus can step away from the call of the crowd to further the will of the Father.
As we live our Christian lives, we may face difficult decisions. Similarly, the weight of all our demands and tasks may weigh heavily on our shoulders. In the face of such things, times of solitude and silence are calming to us. They provide needed relief, direction, and strength. The more we spend time with Jesus, in a focused time of prayerful attending, the greater degree of direction we have, and the greater peace we hold as we navigate our life of faith.
Jesus’ time in solitude was not a one-time event. Jesus frequently sought out times of solitude. For example, Jesus spends time in solitude before he chooses the disciples (Luke 6:12); He seeks a lonely place after the disciples return from their first mission (Mark 6:31); He spends time praying alone following the feeding of the 5000 (Mark 6:46); and seeks time alone in Gethsemane (Matthew26:36). Through the course of his ministry, Jesus frequently engaged in times of solitude.
We can easily fall into the temptation of busyness in our lives. We may tell ourselves that we don’t have the time to cultivate solitude and silence. “There is too much going on!” we say; “If I don’t do this, no one else will.” “Everyone is counting on me.” But is this true? After all, as much as we might laud our busyness, don’t we all have time to scroll social media or watch our favorite program? Deep down we all know that, if we truly seek it, we all can find the time necessary to connect with Jesus.
If you want to have a deeper faith, then waste your time with Jesus. Cultivate a habit where He is your focus, where you attend to his presence in silence and solitude. Doing so is easier than you might think. You might observe a time of silent prayer for 5 minutes in the morning, Or you could spend time in silence at the end of the day. The great thing about these times of solitude is that we never have to manage it or master it. In these wasted places, away from the demand for productivity or efficiency, we simply allow Jesus to do his work in our lives. The more we engage in such time, the more we will find that our connection with Jesus doesn’t just remain in those solitary moments but remains with us constantly.
How will you waste time with Jesus this week?
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Bohdan Bevz
