In Good Faith

26: You're Only Human

Chong Shao, Daniel Shih

On today’s show, Chong and Dan share what’s been going on in our lives during a busy 2022. This gets us to unpack the concept of “busyness”, and how we in modern society constantly strain against our limits and wonder if we are doing “enough”. Drawing on insights from the book You’re Only Human, we consider how limits are not an inherently bad thing. We also explore the root of our busyness, namely pride in pursuing our own interests and seeking to be the master of our own lives. We conclude with a call to not be everything, everywhere, all at once.

Music by: Julian Wan


Connect with us


Show notes

Year in review (2:01)

  • Dan’s “sophomore slump” in ministry
  • Chong’s priority stack - core, primary, secondary
  • Primary responsibilities (children, church, work) expanding and crowding out other things


Concept of busyness (16:31)

  • Why do we feel like we are never doing enough?
  • Introduction to Kelly Kapic’s book
  • Ultimately a theological problem - misunderstanding who we are and what we were made for

You’re Only Human by Kelly Kapic

Finitude is not sin (25:17)

  • God created us with limits (and it was good); he did not create us with sin
  • Cautionary tale: Everything Everywhere All at Once
  • Time management techniques cover up the core problem

IGF 11: The Crisis of Freedom

Pride as the root cause (45:05)

  • We want to do more and be more, want mastery over all things… i.e., to be like God
  • Humility as the antidote - to think less of ourselves and to think of ourselves less
  • Giving thanks for our limitations


Conclusion (1:02:09)

  • The insidious effect of busyness - robbing us of joy in the present