Are You Bored?

If I had to pick one phrase that annoys me the most it would be "I'm bored."  In fact, that phrase isn't allowed in our house!  I suppose the phrase bothers me because, as a stay-at-home wife and mother of four who it seems is never home, there is always lots and lots and LOTS that can be done and that needs to be done.  It may not be what I want to do, but it's still stuff that needs to be taken care of continuously. 

For my children to say "I'm bored" would mean that they are unaware of all of the things they have all around them:  toys, games, a huge yard to play in, a field to play in, etc.  But, don't those who say, "I'm bored," also have "stuff and things"???  Yes.  They do.  So, what makes someone say, "I'm bored."?

Here are some reasons I can think of that might cause people to say that they are bored. Can you think of any more?

REASONS PEOPLE ARE BORED

1.  People want to be entertained.
We live in an "entertainment"-driven society.  We constantly want to be watching something or listening to something.  Our minds are never clear or just simply thinking.  Are mouths are rarely quiet.  Our bodies are rarely still.  We have cell phones, iPods, iPads, video games, computers, TVs, etc.....all kinds of electronic devices to keep us busy all of the time. We're not content with quiet times of meditation, but constantly bombarding our minds with "stuff". But when our lives are constantly filled with entertainment, we're eventually going to get tired of the "same old stuff" and want new stuff and better stuff.....and when we don't have that new challenge or new toy of sorts....we're bored.

2.  People are selfish.
When someone says they are bored, they are being selfish.  They are only thinking of their wants and their needs.  They aren't looking beyond what is right in front of them.  They are not interested in helping others or serving others.

3.  People fail to let God work in their lives.
The Bible plainly says that God created us to do good works.....good works for Him.

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Ephesians 2:10

When we are "bored", we're not actively seeking to do those good works for God.  We're not letting our lights shine in the way Jesus did.  There are good works to be done all over the world and in our own communities.  We just may have to look for them.  They may not jump out at us. We may need to get out of our comfort zones and find them.

God's people should never be bored.  We're too blessed to be bored.  There is too much to be done to be bored.  In fact, there is a LOT of God's work to be done! We just have to be willing to get up, get out of our entertainment-driven lives, and WORK!! 

He gave us all gifts and abilities....

"to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Ephesians 4:12-13

How could we ever be bored when we're being becoming mature and more like Christ?

On this Gratituesday, I am grateful that God created many things for me to do, but I pray that I never say "I'm bored" and become too lazy or too busy to do them.

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!