One of Those…
There is a person I’m familiar with (I’m not going to give you any more info than that) that every time we go out to eat, this person always finds fault in the experience. We probably all know someone like that. It seems like most of the time, they are looking for some gimme from the restaurant or an excuse to stiff the server a tip. I’m not suggesting that we should never speak up when less than adequate service or food is provided. However, that should be the exception rather than the rule. If it happens regularly, I’d suggest you consider the reasonableness of your expectations.
The same thing happens with the activities of the church body. There are many people that work hard to worship God by sharing their time and treasures. Are you one of them?
“The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. When Moses’ father-in-law saw all that he was doing for the people, he said, “What is this that you are doing for the people? Why do you sit alone, and all the people stand around you from morning till evening?” And Moses said to his father-in-law, “Because the people come to me to inquire of God; when they have a dispute, they come to me and I decide between one person and another, and I make them know the statutes of God and his laws.” Moses’ father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will certainly wear yourselves out, for the thing is too heavy for you. You are not able to do it alone. Now obey my voice; I will give you advice, and God be with you! You shall represent the people before God and bring their cases to God, and you shall warn them about the statutes and the laws, and make them know the way in which they must walk and what they must do. Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe, and place such men over the people as chiefs of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. And let them judge the people at all times. Every great matter they shall bring to you, but any small matter they shall decide themselves. So it will be easier for you, and they will bear the burden with you. If you do this, God will direct you, you will be able to endure, and all this people also will go to their place in peace.” - Exodus 18:13-23
What is the saying? Many hands makes work light. I encourage you, no I implore you, to look around the church body and think where can I share my time, treasure, and talents to worship God.
I can hear my own voice in my head as I write this…I’m so busy now, how can I volunteer for something else? Or, I’m not good at organizing activities.
There is a blessing in volunteering that I promise you that you can’t perceive. I wrote my first one of these to try put my thoughts into words after a message that I heard Pastor Patrick give. He asked me if I’d be willing to write more of them. I thought, “Oh great! Something else for me to try to squeeze in!” I have been blessed and I feel like I’ve grown greatly in writing several of these. In fact, I look forward to writing them.
