Have you ever been in a room full of people and someone asks for volunteers? Do you quickly slump down your chair until you are satisfied that your head is hidden behind the person in front of you. Do you suddenly become interested in your feet? Or, do you hold your breath and pray they don’t ask if you are available?
Sound familiar?
On the contrary, maybe you aren’t shy about volunteering your time. Maybe you sign up for everything imaginable and live to serve on committees? Or maybe you have so many things on your plate that the moment you hiccup, one of the many balls you are juggling comes crashing down and proceeds to shatter – taking your confidence and joy along with it.
Now, does that sound familiar?
Regardless of the group you identify with (avoidance or busyness), we are at some point in our lives asked to give up time, money and energy for something outside of ourselves. How do you respond?
“Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.” Hebrews 13:16
Do you:
Pray for wisdom and discernment to make good volunteer decisions? Do you ask for courage and strength to fulfill God’s will to care for the needy?
Answer the call to volunteer because you are certain you could add to the mission at hand?
Look for opportunities to match your skill set and offer help?
Avoid volunteering because you are too busy living your own crazy and over-packed life to load another activity onto your plate.
Personally, my answer tends to be avoidance. In fact, there are plenty of times I have bowed my head and rushed away from a volunteer opportunity only to chastise myself later because I could have been useful to the cause.
“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” Luke 6:38
On the flip side, sometimes I am so overwhelmed with offering my abilities that I end up failing to accomplish the objective (to help others) because I’ve failed to ask for God’s guidance or logically chosen an activity that fits my personality, time availability or talents.
In fact, I’ve been known to use volunteer opportunities as a way to create BUSYNESS in my life to make myself feel better, rather than giving to others for the greater good. Funny, how I can always bring any situation (good or bad) back around to me! Argh!
As I’ve said before, I ‘m a selfish person (hence, the answer number four). Unfortunately, volunteering and helping others does not coincide with this character trait. Go figure!
However, I am time and again urged to take action by a Heavenly Father who wants me to be His hands and feet. I desperately want to please my Maker, but I’m just SO HUMAN!!!! What a dichotomy, I am!!!
“But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
Why me? Can’t someone else step up to the plate, take the lead and serve the lost, lonely, needy and hungry of the world? Frankly, I have better things to do. Not really, but I’m lazy. Sigh.
Plain and simply…NO.
If I don’t participate in helping the unfortunate people of the world, who will? If I don’t set out to share the gifts given to me, then why should I expect to receive any blessings? If I don’t answer the call to spread the love of Christ, then what value is my life?
I dream of leaving a mark on the world. But more than anything, I dream of hearing God say, “Well done, Meg” at the end of my life.
In order to reach these two goals, I have to be proactive and seek a closer relationship with God in order to discern the direction and actions He would like me to take in all things. I also have to ask God to give me a sacrificial heart and a willingness to put others above myself.
“If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well.” James 2:8
The world can be a better place, but it starts with us.
What are you volunteering for these days?
Some Wisdom for Today: Proverbs 22:9 – Whoever has a bountiful eye will be blessed, for he shares his bread with the poor.
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