In the midst of a fierce battle, a soldier was ordered to guard a captive. The soldier was told if the captive escaped he would pay with his life.

You can read the story for yourself in 1 Kings 20:37-43.

At first, the soldier took on the responsibility to guard his prisoner diligently. He kept an eye on his prisoner at all times, never wavering from his task.

But at some point, the soldier tired of his responsibility as the prisoner’s guard and became distracted with other things. Nothing important mind you, he was just busy with other things. And while he was distracted, the prisoner escaped.

When confronted, the soldier said he had not been overpowered or surprised by his captive. The captive escaped the soldier said because he was “busy here and there.”

This soldier failed in his duty to guard the prisoner. He was given one job, and by his own admission, he was “busy here and there” doing other things while his prisoner escaped.

Why Did He Fail?

We know the soldier did not fail through ignorance. He knew exactly what his duty was and what was at stake if he failed. The penalty for failing to guard his prisoner was his own life.

We know he did not fail because of a lack of ability. The soldier was given the job of guarding the captive precisely because his superiors knew he had the ability.

We know he did not fail due to laziness. He started out diligently staffing his post. He was not taking a nap when his prisoner escaped. By his own words, he was busy here and there.

If this soldier did not fail from ignorance, or inability, or idleness, why did he fail?

He failed because he was busy here and there. He was so busy doing things other than what he was ordered to do, that his prisoner had time to escape.

The Danger of Busy over Best

I imagine this soldier as busy running errands in the midst of the battle. Perhaps he was gathering his armor. Or, perhaps he was gathering some scraps of food and firewood to cook dinner.

None of those were bad, but they were not his primary task. He allowed things of secondary importance to distract him from his primary task.

At one time or another, I have warned my family, my students, and even my employees to be mindful of this tendency. It is easy to be distracted and get so busy doing things of secondary importance that we neglect the most important.

It’s even happened to me! I go outside for some sunshine and pull a few weeds or chat with a neighbor when I should be studying or writing. I rationalize pulling the weeds outside. After all, I need my vitamin D. Listening to my neighbor is one way I can minister to him.

I check off a dozen “B’s” or “C’s” of little importance on my “to do” list when I should be concentrating on that “A.”

More often than I care to admit, I have been “busy here and there” with things that were not bad, but they were second best.

Second Best is Not Our Calling

Jesus taught the disciples they shouldn’t be focused on the secondary while neglecting the primary.

He said, “…Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing? But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you” (Matthew 6:25, 34).

Jesus said our primary responsibility is to seek first the kingdom of God. We should never get so busy here and there with matters of secondary importance that we neglect what is most important!

Leaders, let’s remember our primary responsibility is to seek first the kingdom of God. This is what matters most and has eternal implications. All the other stuff is just stuff.

Join the Conversation

As always, questions and comments are welcome. Are there times when you are busy here and there and neglect what is most important?

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Category: Personal Development | Priorities