In 1973, Princeton psychology professors John Darley and Daniel Batson conducted a landmark study illustrating how extreme busyness compromises our priorities and focus. This experiment is particularly relevant to ministry leaders today, as it highlights how busyness hides spiritual sloth within the church environment.
The researchers tasked three groups of seminary students with walking across campus to deliver a presentation on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Along their path, an actor portrayed a person in distress, slumped in an alley. Each group faced different time constraints: the first was told they were already late; the second was told they would be exactly on time if they left immediately; and the third was given ample time to arrive early. The results demonstrated that surviving the busyness of Christmas and other high-pressure seasons depends heavily on our perceived margin.
• 63% of the students with extra time stopped to help the man.
• 45% of the students who were on time stopped to help the man.
• 10% of the students who were rushing stopped to help the man.
These were seminary students. Teaching on the good Samaritan. And only 10% stopped to be a good Samaritan when they were late and out of time. Such is the devastating impact of busyness.
1. Busyness Distracts Us From God.
When we are overly busy, we fail to stop and listen. We rush by others, but we also rush by opportunities to listen to the Lord and enjoy time with him. While busyness is often applauded over laziness, the cure for the vice of sloth is not busyness as trading sloth for busyness is trading a lethargic life for a frenzied one. Neither is pleasing to God or very effective.
2. Busyness Distracts Us From Others.
When we are overly busy we fail to see the pain and struggle in others, as the research experiment with the seminary students proved. What is fascinating about the study is that the mental prompt of teaching about the good Samaritan failed to overcome the busyness. In other words, the busyness was more powerful than the mental prompt. When we are overly busy we are unable to be for people what we should be for people, even if we know better.
3. Busyness Distracts Us From What Is Most Important.
As many have pointed out, we can acquire more money and resources but we cannot get more time. Thus, when we are overly busy, we have no choice but to steal time from what is most important. When we are overly busy, time has to be taken from something important because there is not more time to get somewhere else. When we have a deep sense of commitment to an overarching important mission, we abhor busyness for the sake of busyness. When we say “no” to busyness, we are saying “yes” to what is most important.
This article originally appeared on EricGeiger.com and is reposted here by permission.