We humans need to feel that our lives count for something, that we exist for some purpose, that our lives have meaning. We want to enjoy a sense of destiny. We want to feel significant.

The age we’re living in doesn’t seem particularly good at divining purpose or meaning. It seems much better at activity — and the more furious and nonstop, the better. We tell ourselves if we’re always busy, that must mean we’re in demand and that we count for something. We settle for mere productivity and busyness while inwardly we crave a sense of purpose and destiny.

Of course, I see nothing wrong with keeping a full schedule. God Himself commends fruitful activity, so long as it serves a worthwhile purpose (Exodus 20:9). When the apostle Paul learned that some of his friends were not busy, but instead took to idleness, he commanded them to pick up the pace and earn the bread they ate (2 Thessalonians 3:11).

The problem lies not in activity, but mistaking it for significance. Just because we’re busy doesn’t mean that we’re fulfilling some grand purpose. The trick is to get busy about the right things. We need to be busy serving our neighbors and sharing God’s love with those around us. Those things are worth our time, and working for Christ will give us the significance we crave. We must be busy reaching our world for Jesus.

This is Luis Palau.