Renouncing Hustle Culture

Ecclesiastes 4:5,6 Some people say, “It is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing. If you don’t work, you will starve to death.” Maybe that is true. But I say it is better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.

I wonder if you’d agree with me that busyness is ruining many a life. “Busy, busy, busy,” has become almost a badge of honour. But at what price? What toll is this incessant busyness extracting on your life?

I’ve always been someone who believed in hard work. There’s nothing wrong with that, right? For decades I’d be up at 2:30 or 3:00 am and, after a time with the Lord, sitting at my desk working.

Until it all caught up with me. Until my body shut down (almost permanently) in protest. That’s my story, what’s yours? I heard someone say recently that busyness, hurry, this thing that’s being called “hustle culture”, is a sociopathic predator at loose in our lives that would rob us of everything we hold dear.

It’s hard to argue with. Rushing here, rushing there without a moment to pause, to think, to pray, to rest, to exercise, to engage with your loved ones … will eventually rob you of your health, your family, your friendships and in particular, your relationship with God.

Ecclesiastes 4:5,6 Some people say, “It is foolish to fold your hands and do nothing. If you don’t work, you will starve to death.” Maybe that is true. But I say it is better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.

Of course, sitting around doing nothing all day will get you nowhere. But – and here’s a radical thought – what if being satisfied with fewer things were to buy you time to invest in the truly important things in life?

Better to be satisfied with the few things you have than to always be struggling to get more.

That’s God’s Word. Fresh … for you … today.