“Busyness is like sin: Kill it, or it will be killing you”

When I go to the bookstores these days, I see a myriad of self-help books that are targeted for busy people. They provide a guide on effective time management or the best strategies to get things done. But these books are generally focused on increasing our productivity and can manage our busy life efficiently. They do not see busyness as a problem, rather it is clear that living a busy life is becoming increasingly acceptable, and even commendable.

As I explored the topic of busyness, I turned to see what Christian authors have said about this issue, and I came across Kevin DeYoung’s Crazy Busy! A (Mercifully) Short Book about a Really (Big) Problem. If you’re a busy person who would like to know if this book is worth your time, the short answer is: yes, it is a wonderfully written book that tackles busyness through a Bible-centred lens. 

But I also recommend this book to everyone, because Kevin DeYoung’s book is not interested in telling you how to get through your busyness and be an effective person. But instead, DeYoung reveals the underlying sin that makes our lives so busy: pride. And DeYoung identifies the ‘killer-Ps’ that stem from our pride, such as people pleasing, proving yourself, poor planning, and many more.

What I like about this book is that DeYoung did not take a black-and-white approach in viewing busyness. Not all forms of busyness are bad, in fact, there are good forms of it. The book even goes on to point out that even Jesus had a busy life, and we, as Christians, are called for a busy life. So the issue does not lie in the busyness itself, rather our heart. 

I won’t go into detail about the book in this article, because I believe that this book will be a blessing for anyone that reads it. It’s incredibly short and easy to read, so it is an accessible book for everyone. And I would end this article by quoting from one of the chapters that really made me reflect on my own lives (and I hope it does to you too):

“Busyness does not mean you are a faithful or fruitful Christian. It only means you are busy, just like everyone else. And like everyone else, your joy, your heart, and your soul are in danger”