Point 2 – I’m so busy for the rest of my life.Guilt
Why am I so distracted? What is keeping me from a good faith walk with Jesus? Guilt—I think I’m not doing enough or what I am doing is not good enough. You might be busy with kids, aging parents and many other things. There is just so much guilt when we try to do so many things at one time. My former thoughts were those that if I served on many “boards” that it made me really important, but I know now that was a “self” focus on the internal and external benefits for me, rather than a focus on the eternal value. Internal value would be thoughts like this, “I am reaching all of my personal goals!” That really has no eternal value. The external value might also be a self focus on how I must look to the community, elevating my standing. This has no eternal value either.
I got to the point in my life where I needed to pare down my volunteer commitments, they were taking me over. I had no time for my children or even just personal time. God clearly showed me to focus on those things that have ETERNAL value. This scripture was very helpful to me:
That God will make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is pleasing in His sight through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:21
He will equip you to do the work. He says He’ll make you complete in EVERY good work, not just some, but every single good work that is in His will, not my will, but what is in His will for me! It will be well pleasing in His sight, not the sight of man. His sight is so different, His sight is so different than what mere men see or even think about. This is all through Jesus Christ who gets the glory forever and ever.
Whatever your volunteer and community efforts are, don’t give yourself the glory of the good outcome. Look to God and for Him to receive the glory for your efforts.
I hope I’ve given you permission to take some things “off.” Before you put more on, remember to ask God, “What’s pleasing in your sight, what is your will for my life, does this have eternal value or am I really looking at the internal and external value for me personally?”
Do what is pleasing in His sight and have a great Thanksgiving! Love your family!