“The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2 (NASB)
“What are we doing today, Honey?” he casually asked his wife one Saturday afternoon.
“Going to the farmer’s market, then off to meet friends for lunch. Tomorrow you have your golf game and I get to go to my workout. I think we have some time if you wanted to visit your brother this evening, or we can stay in and order take out,” she answered lightly.
This was a pretty typical weekend for the couple, and they enjoyed the pace and rhythm of their schedule.
Fun days and weekends are a blessing. There are seasons where such sabbaticals are exactly what God wants for you. However, sometimes you can get so wrapped up in serving yourself that you forget to provide service to the world. When this happens in your family, stop and take inventory. Are you obeying God’s call to teach others about God? Though some are not called to teach directly in a school or church setting, all of God’s children are called to be Christ’s influence to others.
Is there an imbalance in your life? Are you more likely to serve yourself than serve others? Remember that God wants you to love others as much as you love yourself. This includes neighbors and newcomers, people in your church, as well as those in your family. Loving people brings God’s light to this world; plus, by being obedient to His call, you store up treasures in heaven. Even if God doesn’t always show His love in the form of worldly pleasures and comforts, He loves His family and wants His children to thrive. Which means doing His will, even when it requires you to step out of your comfort zone.
Dear Jesus, so many times I forget that serving others means actually sacrificing my time and giving out of the abundance of Your love for me. Help me to remember that this season, so I can show others how much Your love means to me. Help them to want You to be Lord over their life as a result of seeing my obedience to You and the blessings that follow. Please help me to be wise about how I spend my time also, Lord, so that I do not do too much or too little! In Your precious name, amen.
Take Action
Clear away some time this week to make a commitment to a family member or friend who you have been meaning to spend time with, but haven’t for a while. And don’t forget your own self-care in the process!