Do you ever find yourself bailing everyone out of their jams, leaving your own tasks undone? A phone call comes in from a volunteer project in which you are involved. They need last minute help if the project is to succeed. Your boss at work asks you to fill in for a co-worker he forgot was going on vacation. The food committee at your child’s school needs 12 dozen homemade cookies for Thursday.
You run around trying to stop the leaks in the dike with your thumbs. Until you run out of thumbs . . . and energy . . . and time. Your own tasks are left undone - the house needs a good cleaning, laundry is stacking up and meals are skimpy and eaten on the run.
You stop to take a breath. Realization of what is happening strikes you. Then you remember that God says he desires our obedience to Him, not sacrifice. In this case, sacrificing to meet the emergency needs of others is conflicting with your obedience to the King.
You smile. The decision is simple - obedience is what is needed and what is best. You prayerfully decide which tasks to do in obedience to God and leave the rest behind.
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice. I Samuel 15:22
Heavenly Father, please give me clear sight to see when obedience to You is in conflict with the demands of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment