Busyness is a huge problem in our modern world. With so many distractions and things competing for our time, it’s easy to become overscheduled, overcommitted, and too busy. The Bible has a lot to say about busyness and offers wisdom and perspective for living a less hurried life.
Verses about the dangers of busyness
Several verses in Scripture warn about the dangers of busyness. When we’re too busy, it’s easy to neglect our relationship with God and the things that really matter most. Here are some key verses:
“But Martha was distracted with much serving.” (Luke 10:40 ESV) – This story shows how Martha’s busyness kept her from choosing the “one thing necessary” – sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to his teaching.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 ESV) – Jesus invites all who are weighed down and burdened by busyness to come to him to find true rest.
“What profit has a man from all his labor in which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:3 ESV) – This reminds us that all our endless activity is meaningless if God is not at the center.
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV) – Seeking God’s kingdom must be first priority. Busyness often distracts us from what matters most.
“It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late…for he grants sleep to those he loves.” (Psalm 127:2 ESV) – God desires balance and rest, not burnout from working excessively.
Verses about slowing down and finding rest
In contrast to warning about busyness, the Bible encourages us to slow down, be still, and spend time resting and waiting on God. Here are some key verses:
“Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10 ESV) – We need quiet and stillness to reflect on God’s presence and power.
“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15 ESV) – True strength is found not in busyness but in quiet trust in God.
“Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” (Mark 6:31 ESV) – Jesus encouraged his disciples to get away and rest, knowing the importance of pacing ourselves.
“Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God.” (Exodus 20:9-10 ESV) – God commands us to set aside a whole day each week for rest and renewal.
“Be careful (anxious) for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV) – Rather than anxiety, busyness and worry, God encourages us to pray, give thanks, and receive His peace.
Verses about setting priorities and seeking wisdom
It’s easy to fill our schedules with good things and neglect what’s most important. Several verses encourage wisdom in how we spend our time and set priorities:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33 ESV) – Putting God first helps keep everything in proper perspective.
“Do not love the world or the things in the world…the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions.” (1 John 2:15-16 ESV) – Busyness often results from chasing after the wrong priorities.
“What is desired in a man is steadfast love, and a poor man is better than a liar.” (Proverbs 19:22 ESV) – Character is far more important than achievements or productivity.
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12 ESV) – We need God’s wisdom to make the most of our limited time.
“Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16 ESV) – We are called to walk wisely and make the most of opportunities without falling into the trap of busyness.
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit’— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring.” (James 4:13-14 ESV) – Rather than assuming we control our time, we need to submit our plans to God’s will.
Verses about anxiety and worry
Sometimes our busyness stems from worry and anxiety over the future. But God tells us to trust Him with the future and reject fear:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 ESV)
“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matthew 6:34 ESV)
“When I said, ‘My foot slips,’ your steadfast love, O Lord, held me up. When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.” (Psalm 94:18-19 ESV)
“Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22 ESV)
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7 ESV)
Verses about rest and abiding in Christ
Rather than busyness, Jesus invites us to abide in Him, rest in Him, and be refreshed by Him:
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:4-5 ESV)
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30 ESV)
“In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15 ESV)
Jesus provided true rest that frees us from anxiety and busyness: “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:32 ESV)
Verses about contentment and simplicity
Chasing after more possessions, status and accomplishments fuels busyness. But God calls us to find contentment and simplicity in Him:
“But godliness with contentment is great gain, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Timothy 6:6-8 ESV)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV)
“Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues with injustice.” (Proverbs 16:8 ESV) – Character and integrity matter more than productivity and busyness.
“For we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.” (1 Timothy 6:7-8 ESV) – Focus on meeting basic needs rather than on pursuing excess.
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
Verses about technology and busyness
While technology can be used for good, it also contributes greatly to busyness and distraction today. We need wisdom in how we use it.
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15-16)
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119:11)
Verses about saying no and setting boundaries
To overcome busyness, we sometimes need to say no to good things so we can say yes to God’s best:
“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)
“So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.” (Psalm 90:12)
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
“For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)
“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” (Colossians 3:23)
“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” (Proverbs 16:3)
Verses about perspective and motivation
Busyness often results from wrong motivations like greed, pride and envy. We need God’s perspective on what truly matters.
“What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36 ESV)
“He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 ESV)
“It is the blessing of the Lord that makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it.” (Proverbs 10:22 ESV)
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” (Philippians 2:3-4 ESV)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21 ESV)
Verses about God’s sovereignty over time
We can reject busyness and anxiety when we remember that God is in control of every moment:
“My times are in your hand.” (Psalm 31:15 ESV)
“In him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28 ESV)
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV)
“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” (Matthew 10:29-31 ESV)
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord.” (Jeremiah 29:11-14 ESV)
Verses about busyness, worry, and anxiety
In summary, key Bible verses about busyness, worry and anxiety remind us to:
- Seek God first, not busyness (Matthew 6:33)
- Find true rest in Christ (Matthew 11:28-30)
- Trust God with the future (Matthew 6:34)
- Pray about everything, with thanksgiving (Philippians 4:6)
- Abide in Christ as the true vine (John 15:4-5)
- Be content without chasing excess (1 Timothy 6:6-8)
- Say no when needed to protect priorities (Matthew 6:33)
- Remember God is in control of time (Psalm 31:15)
May we listen well to God’s Word, follow Christ’s example, and reject busyness and anxiety as we walk in the Spirit each day!