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I'm too Busy

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Pacific Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Oakland, California · Mar 1, 1877

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 3, No. 10.

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“I'm too Busy.”

A MERCHANT sat at his office desk. Various letters were spread before him. His whole being was absorbed in the intricacies of his business.
A zealous friend of religion entered the office.
“I want to interest you a little in a new effort for the cause of Christ,” said the good man.
“Sir, you must excuse me,” replied the merchant, “I am too busy to attend to that subject now.”
“But, sir, iniquity is on the increase among us, and we ought to do something to prevent it.”
“When shall I call again, sir?”
“I cannot tell. I'm very busy. I'm busy every day. Excuse me, sir; I wish you good morning.”
Then, bowing the intruder out of the office, he resumed the study of his papers.
The merchant had frequently repulsed the friends of humanity in this manner. No matter what the object, he was always too busy to listen to their claims. He had even told his minister that he was too busy for anything but to make money.
But one morning, a disagreeable stranger stepped very softly to his side, laying a cold, moist hand upon his brow, and saying: “Go home with me!”
The merchant laid down his pen; his head grew dizzy; his stomach felt faint and sick; he left the counting room, went home, and retired to his bed-chamber.
His unwelcome visitor had followed him, and now took his place by the bedside, whispering, ever and anon: “You must go with me.”
A cold chill settled on the merchant’s heart; spectres of ships, notes, houses, and lands, flitted before his excited mind. Still his pulse beat slower, his heart heaved heavily, thick films gathered over his eyes, his tongue refused to speak. Then the merchant knew that the name of his visitor was Death!
Humanity, mercy, and religion, had alike begged his influence, means and attention, in vain; but when death came, the excuse was powerless; he was compelled to have leisure to die.
Let us beware how we make ourselves too busy to secure life's great end. When the excuse rises to our lips, and we are about to say we are too busy to do good, let us remember we cannot be too busy to die.—Christian at Work.