幾年前，一份研究分析指出，青少年得憂鬱症與他們每晚睡眠的多寡有關。一名年輕女子讀了那份研究報告之後，提出她的看法：「我似乎從來不知什麼時候該停下來，我將自己逼得太緊了，以致因睡眠不足與壓力過大而生病。」接著，她說自己想知道，要如何管理好時間以榮耀上帝。忙碌與成果有什麼關聯？

雖然忙碌並不一定代表有效益、有忠心或有成果，但是我們常常認為必須忙個不停。路加福音10章41節記載，耶穌溫柔地提醒馬大，她「為許多的事思慮煩擾」，但她妹妹馬利亞卻做了更好的選擇，就是像門徒一樣「在耶穌腳前坐著聽祂的道」（39節）。

雖然我們渴望服事基督，但我們是否做得太多，以為我們做得越多，祂就會越注意我們？歌羅西書3章17節說：「無論做什麼，或說話、或行事，都要奉主耶穌的名。」然而，這並不表示我們要奉祂的名，讓自己忙得筋疲力盡。詩篇46篇10節也提醒我們：「你們要休息，要知道我是上帝！」

讓我們花點時間放慢腳步，花時間與基督親近，而不是只專注在自己的待辦事項。唯有如此，我們才能真正得到「心靈的安息」（馬太福音11章29節，新譯本）。

Several years ago, a study analyzed the link between teenage depression and the amount of sleep teens received each night. After reading the study, a young woman commented on the results: “I never seem to know when to stop—I push myself so hard that I end up making myself sick from lack of sleep and stress.” Then she said she wanted to know what it really meant to manage her time to honor God. What was the difference between busyness and fruitfulness?

Being busy is no guarantee for being productive, faithful, or fruitful. Yet we might think that being busy is what’s most important. In Luke 10:41, Jesus gently reminded Martha that she was “worried and upset about many things” and that her sister Mary’s choice of sitting “at the Lord’s feet” (v. 39)—a posture of discipleship—was the better choice.

In our desire to serve Christ, are we doing too much, thinking that He’ll notice us more if we do more? Colossians 3:17 says, “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.” However, it doesn’t say to burn ourselves out in His name. In Psalm 46:10, we hear this reminder: “Be still, and know that I am God.”

Let’s take some time to slow down and spend time with Christ rather than focusing solely on our to-do list. Only then can we find true “rest for [our] souls” (Matthew 11:29).