Can I lighten that load a bit?

As you serve the Lord, work hard and don’t be lazy. Be excited about serving him! Be happy because of the hope you have. Be patient when you have troubles. Pray all the time. Share with God’s people who need help. Look for people who need help and welcome them into your homes. (Romans 12:11-13)

Is it possible to be a little 'lazy' in our service to the Lord and his people? Of course it is! We aren't going to be 'on cue' 100% of the time, no matter how hard we try to be consistent. The heart is what matters - are we intentional in our service, focused on what God desires for us to be doing, and looking for ways to help others? Look for people who need help and then do what you can to be of help to them. This is God's plan.

Our plan may not always be the same as God's, but as long as we are making ourselves available for his use, he will reveal his plan to us. If you have ever been prompted to do something 'out of the blue' that met the need of someone around you, you have probably been listening to the prompts the Holy Spirit gives related to being 'of service' to one another. Does help always have to be physical or financial? No, it can be emotional in the form of supportive encouragement, or even spiritual in the form of praying for the other individual.

We don't want to limit God's actions through our lives, so whenever we feel we are getting a bit 'lazy' in our service, it is time to ask God to show us new ways to be engaged again. God knows we are not always going to be 'on cue' with him. He also knows there are needs all around us that he has specifically prepared us to be of use in meeting. If we are dragging our feet a little in stepping up to meet the need, he sometimes brings a bit of conviction to our inner man that almost 'stings' when we hear it. Why does it 'sting'? We knew we were being prompted and yet we didn't step forward.

Service is more than working in the nursery during church service, being a youth leader, or making the coffee for Sunday service. Service is really any action that is deemed helpful in the moment. It may very well be holding someone's hand during a difficult talk with their doctor, or even helping a widow sort through the challenges of setting things in order for a funeral service. God doesn't ask for us to be engaged in 'church work' as much as he asks for us to be sensitive to the needs of those around us every day that we might somehow lighten their load. Just sayin!

Comments


  1. As always, you hit the nail on the head with your truth and your wisdom thank you again, Brenda Wood

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