The Gospel and the Idol of Busyness

One of the things I'm learning is that busyness--doing good things--can itself become an idol, and that it's easy to have false guilt about all the good things I'm not doing. That's why I appreciated Kevin DeYoung's post today. Read the whole thing, but here's a taste:

I'm not on the verge of burnout or breakdown or anything like that. Most days I don't feel guilty about all the stuff I'm not doing. But that's only because I've learned to ignore a lot of things well-meaning Christians say or write. I'm only 32 and already I'm worn out by urgent calls to transform the culture or rid the world of hunger or usher in an age or world peace. I'm not a cynic, at least I hope not. I just realize there is only so much I can do. I also realize that right now that my main work is to lead my family, shepherd my church, and preach faithful sermons. If I do these things, by God's grace, and grow in one more degree of glory this week (again, by God's grace), should I still feel guilty for all that I'm not doing in the world?