Busy: Tackling the problem of an overloaded Christian life

by Ian Carmichael

Busy is a biblical exploration of how best to use your time.In a world where everyone feels overwhelmingly busy,and when it is so easy to feel that being a Christian adds to the busyness problem, this book examines what the Bible says about life and how we spend our time.The book explores the implications of being made in God’s image, and also at God’s big overarching plan for the world and how we fit into that plan.It then helps us establish a framework for making good decisions about all aspects of our life. If reducing our busyness requires us to make hard choices, this framework helps us to know what to choose.The book includes some appendices that look specifically at the implications for work, family and church.

Genres: Christian Living, Faith

181 pages, Paperback

Published October 24, 2022

Reviews

[Talicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was helpful in the sense that it talked through busyness in the sense of secular life, but how our busyness should always be pointing first towards God and looking at making disciples for him.

It wasn’t exactly what I was expecting however, I think it was really helpful to read as uni starts again for the year.

[Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Carmichael’s first time authoring a published book!? I seriously loved this book. My favorite way for a Christian wisdom book to start is with a robust explanation of the gospel and how to view wisdom in life in light of that truth. Reminds me of how When People Are Big and God Is Small was written. More than that, this book mobilizes evangelism and discipleship. People are picking this book up likely to get less busy but instead receive a convicting word about dropping what is temporary (within reason) so that eternally significant work can take the primary spot on our priority list. I have been praying through the busyness of my life and I believe the Lord answered me in providing this book and giving me the time and reflection to do the relationship audit- such a helpful resource! I also read through the appendices and usually, Christian books don’t shine light on the experience of a believing child of unbelieving parents. So, I was especially blessed learning more about Carmichael’s spiritual upbringing and seeing how that shaped the way he was writing. I wasn’t expecting it out of this book, but it was really special. I would recommend this book to anyone wrestling through elevation of their work to define their worthiness and then being weighed down by busyness. Living like that makes busyness bothersome, but it’s meant to be beautiful- that’s what I learned from this book! Awesome read and well-written! So much Scripture and clearly Carmichael is well-read, makes sense with his former paid employment.

[Ella Y · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 1 of our book club ✅
This was a very insightful book on how to deal with the (at times) overloaded nature of a Christian life. I especially liked the idea that busyness when well directed is a good thing (if it is helping people get to Point B or the new creation). But also on the flip side, recognising that God also rests and we should enjoy the good things God has given us. It was a good and important reminder that our agenda should be Christ’s and not our own !

[Isabella Hyam · Rating 4 out of 5]

So helpful! I would recommend to any Christian who feels overwhelmed or... busy haha

[Clarice · Rating 5 out of 5]

so practical & helpful in framing how to live as a Christian in a busy world in light of God’s overarching plan for the world - we are to live with “well-directed busyness”

[Hannah Hoyer · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book that helpfully outlines the biblical perspective of work and rest. It has encouraged me to be busy with good (gospel) things whilst ensuring I leave time to rest properly. I especially enjoyed the relationship audit in chapter 9!

[Darryl Burling · Rating 3 out of 5]

The main thrust of this book is that we ought to be busy, but busy with the right things. The author distinguishes between working "for God" and "the work of God." Where this book departs from most books on time management is the abandonment of the creation mandate (Gen 1:28) as the foundation of all work that we do. The result is that the book comes across as dualistic. There really is only one set of work that we should be busy on, and this is the work "of the Lord" which essentially can be boiled down to work with reference to what the author calls "point b" (referring to the eternal state). Thus, sleeping, resting, and our regular jobs are not directly relevant to this "point b" paradigm and therefore are simply necessary until we can be freed up for that other work. Unfortunately, for many people, there are times of life when they are completely focused on "work for the Lord" and therefore must render these times of their lives as less valuable than perhaps later years when they can engage in "the work of the Lord." As I said, this is probably not what the author wants to communicate, but this is how it ends up coming across.

In short, "spiritual" activities are valuable for "point b" oriented busyness and others are not.

The author raises two points against the creation mandate. First he argues that we should have a "new creation mandate" because we are "new testament Christians." However, I think this confuses 2 Cor 5:17 with the "new creation" of the eternal state. While we're new creations *in Christ* this doesn't mean our mandate has changed (or will ever change) from Genesis 1. He asks "why do we only look backwards to the garden of Eden to assess the value of our toil" (p136)? The answer is that the creation mandate is true of mankind from creation, and does not change merely because we're redeemed from sin. If the creation mandate was given prior to sin, why would it change after redemption? He is right to argue that the New Testament reprioritizes us, but this reprioritizing is reversion to the pre-fall state (where the creation mandate was given) rather than to an entirely new state. His second argument is that the NT doesn't refer to the creation mandate when referring to paid work and therefore we should not consider the creation mandate foundational to work in the NT. But this is an argument from silence and needs further support.

So, while I agree with the basic premise of the book, that we should be busy with the right things, I don't think I would evaluate what the "right things" are based on the way this author goes about it. Scripture is clear that all culture making activities, including parenting, art, and far more are all subject to the creation mandate and therefore all are valid even in a fallen world.

There are better books than this - specifically Redeeming Productivity by Reagan Rose which would be my suggestion.

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Busy - Ian Carmichael

Carmichael writes to his audience in a genuine way, this helps the flow of the book. An example would be his use of reflection questions at the end of each chapter. Although it is easy to skip by these parts of books I found due to his oftentimes humorous outlook on the layout of books (because of his experience in publishing), and the way he worded the question it was really good to take a breather and actually do what his intention was, to reflect. The book as you go seems intense with information, but it actually has such a clear, gospel message within it. I particularly appreciated Carmichael’s comments on biblical rest. A topic sorely lacking in the church, yet one he didn’t skip around.

Ultimately Carmichael wants us to see how we view busyness and how God designed work and rest, the differences, similarities, and purposes for it all.. even being busy.

[Caitlin Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ian Carmichael has done a great job in outlining the importance of busyness and how God encourages this.
Drawing on biblical truths, he talks a lot about how busyness is good when well directed.
I particularly like the audit he suggests doing in one of the chapters and it’s great practical advice to really breakdown the time we spend with those close to us and how we actually interact with others. I’ve definitely reflected in response to this book on how I carry my life out on a day to day basis and find that there are many more areas I can invite God into the busyness.

I had wished it went into more depth on some areas of the chapters but for a smaller book and a shorter read it is what’s to be expected.

[Peter Yock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This will absolutely be my go-to recommendation for a Christian book on busyness. At first it was frustratingly slow... there is a lot of groundwork to get through before it gets practical. But by the time you get through all the groundwork, you realise that the groundwork was 100% necessary to take on board all the practical suggestions. Without the theological groundwork, the practical stuff doesn't make half as much sense.

This is a good book for teaching you how to read the Bible, how to understand our place in time/history, and what matters most in life.

I found it to be an easy read, funny, insightful, and inherently practical. The best thing about it is how gospel-centred it is. I'll be suggesting this to uni students I minister to for years to come.

[Paul Tautges · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book with my church staff team and we all had the same impression. It started out strong, and we were encouraged by its reminder of what the big picture of the Christian life is--to glorify God--and how our life and work fit into God's bigger plan. However, the book fizzled out midway and is longer than it needs to be.

[Jonathan Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

A helpful book that explores how a Christian should be busy: a refreshing angle.

[Wayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars.