Let me start this off correctly so you don’t think for one moment I am ungrateful for the position God has put me in.
I Love My Life.
This is my effort in being Bold, and deciding to say something when it is easier to say nothing.
Ok, with that disclaimer out of the way I have to warn you that these thoughts transpired from an actual conversation I had in the last year and felt I missed the opportunity to actually say something. Let’s just say that this conversation included any and all excuses to not help. It didn’t really matter what type of help I asked of you, because you had the excuse. Oh, and you don’t have children, and you don’t work on the weekends.
If you’re reading this and it is all too familiar, you are correct to assume I had this conversation with you.
Let me run down a basic weekly schedule: I work 5 days a week, while Kim does real estate photography as well as running the house as a home economist. The 2 girls have practice 2, sometimes 3 times a week for a competitive soccer team, while our 2 year old runs rampant around the practice fields. This is a VERY tiring and exhaustive schedule (more for Kim). Oh and then there are the soccer tournaments, with sometimes 7 or 8 games in the two days of the weekend. Although it’s a lot, our lives do not revolve around our children’s activities. We love it, absolutely.
This is on top of spending 4 hours at our church and serving for a greater cause; to do life for at least 3 years with a group of middle school kids.
Why?
We do this because God has called every single one of us to serve, and the strengths that Kim and I posses we feel work best in the environments in which we serve.
If you are a Christian, does this mean you are going to hell for not helping in our middle school environment at our church? Hell no it doesn’t, but if you are not serving in any type of capacity, you’re missing out. Big time. There are so many ways and opportunities to help your church, all you have to do is ask.
Be Bold and create an opportunity to serve
If you still can’t find anything to do? Maybe the church you attend is not the right church for you and your strengths or gifts. Hmm…
In fact, whether or not you’re a Christian doesn’t matter. If you don’t believe me, go volunteer for a day at your local soup kitchen and help out for a day or 2. You will see the transformation begin because the experience you get from putting the needs of others before yours on a greater scale will:
- Teach you more about your strengths and weaknesses
- Show you exponential results in just becoming a better person.
- Definitely “build character”
- Validate your position on earth as being Human.
There is way too much need, for you NOT to do something.
There are only so many excuses you can use, and they all stink. So what’s stopping you?
I completely agree with your thoughts/challenge here. We’ve (I’ve) personally seen the positive impact that serving has not only on your own relationship with God, but also the blessing that it can be towards others. My wife and I LOVE being at church every sunday from 9-12:30 knowing that we’re investing in other people’s (and high school students’) lives. It’s awesome.
Yes, we’ll sacrifice our kids getting sleeping in, getting more naps, possibly getting a little cranky… but yes- wholeheartedly agree in serving.
That’s awesome Dustin. It’s such an experience being able to serve as a couple. Not only does investing in the child’s lives make an impact on them, but also to their parents.
I’m hoping to move on with my 6th grade boys through High School, that would be so awesome.
I’m with you. I’ve started with my boys in 9th grade (now they are halfway through 10th)… but my wife has been with her 10th grade girls since they started middle school (6th grade). It’s pretty amazing to see their growth.
Man, bring it… I’m a full-time youth pastor, and I think it’s safe to assume that the average person attending a church probably actually believes somewhere deep down that pastors only work on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights. But there is so much more involved! Even in a small church (we’re a church of less than 200) there’s more to do than the senior pastor and youth pastor can possibly do by themselves. We are constantly hurting for volunteers, while we have people in our congregation who don’t do anything other than show up Sunday mornings for church. Frustrating!
Man, I feel your frustration. I grew up going to churches 200 or less (father’s a pastor), and the volunteer thing is/can be a constant struggle. There is no way our church would be where it is today without its volunteers. As a matter of fact, I think the whole 1.5 year burnout rate for YP’s today are because of the lack of volunteers.
I’ll be prayin’ for you brother.
Love to read these comments since I am in my golden years of service and watching you serve now. I too will be praying for each of you serving…..trust me, you need our prayers.
Your prayers are indeed welcome, and I think I can speak for all in saying we know how important they are. Thank you so, so very much!
There is no better feeling than serving in Christ’s name. I believe whole heartedly that we are the “inn keeper” in the story of the good Samaritan. God has entrusted us the wounded for us to serve their need.
The church will be known, not by the nice worship services, but the by the work we do for our neighbor.
“The Church,” is the topic of the most current series at NP. Unfortunately I think the majority think of The Church as the former. I hope to be able to break those thoughts in my every-day dealings with unchurched people.
Ben,
The harvest field is ready. You are the worker. Go with 1 Peter 2:12 as your banner.
“Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
One of my fave’s, although I prefer the harsh “Pagan” verbiage in NIV, the end… is the end. Hopefully “they” see it in the end, too.
🙂
Ben,
Ouch. That one stung.
Thank you.
To serve and keep serving–that is why I am here. So far, so good.
Keep on, keeping on… ? heh.
Whoa. For a moment there I thought I had an excuse. Not so much.
Does the fact my daily schedule runs from 3am to 11pm count?
@Some wise guy – wow! That’s rough. 3-11 DOES count! The next best thing? Pray for the Pastor and/or the volunteers. Pastors, youth workers, etc, need to know they got their ‘BACK’ covered.
Well said, Ben! Thanks for sharing and thanks for visiting my blog and leaving your blog info. I look forward to reading more. God bless you! 🙂
Thanks Sandy, don’t you just love the blogging community?
Thanks for stopping by!
I couldn’t agree more. Our girls are younger so the competive soccer has not started yet, but I still coach 2 teams. I also use to be an assocaite minister at a church, so I have heard nearly every excuse about why some one couldn’t serve.
You don’t have to do everything, you just need to do something.
Well said. Love that last line. Ima tweet it.
Dude, this is good stuff. I seriously could see using this as a sermon.
Go for it!