1. WHO ARE YOU WILLING TO SERVE?
2. What Value do you place on your service?
Two very important questions to ponder. Many times we find ourselves going through life hoping for something to happen. We have no plan, we don't know who to talk to and we certainly are not sure who we are following.
For many people phrases such as I would have done this or could have done that if it wasn't for this or that. What I call these phrases are EXCUSES. An excuse is another way of saying something is not a priority.
Priorities determine our action. Our everyday activities no matter how limited or how packed indicate where our priority lie. So back to the initial question of service. Who are you willing to serve? This answer should be based on how much you are willing to follow the two commandments Jesus gave in the New Testament. He said in Matt 22:37-40 . . ."'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." (NIV)
According to this verse our priorities in life should look something like this:1. God gets first place. That means He gets to tell us first what He wants from us. The most popular areas that He would like to utilize are most always the same that everyone wants a piece of:
Your time, Your money; and your Attention.
2. The second priority should go to YOU. Yes, that's what I said, YOU!! We all know the golden rule, we were taught it in school, our parents tell us it as children - put others before yourself. While this thought sounds good in theory, how does it really play out in reality. Does it really benefit others if we put them first and neglect ourselves? STOP now and take inventory of how this has worked for benefit in your life.As a matter of fact see if putting yourself last, doesn't also put God in second place as well and instead other people always come first. When we choose to mix up God's order we end up not just messing one part up, but the whole thing gets out of line. Here are some areas that you should put yourself first.
Your spiritual growth. Your physical well being. Your soul destination. Your purpose fulfillment.
3. The third priority would be other people. That includes family friends and social obligations. This area of your life can get your full attention and the best of you, if the first two priorities are in order. Just imagine the unending supply of love and energy that you can receive, if God is first and then you set yourself as second to receive and then now you have something to give out. For most of us the "other people" is the biggest area of commitment and work for us. That's not the problem, the problem is when we did not first do the number 1 and 2 thing and then we try to do three. I don't want to be your number three, if you first don't have number 1 and 2 in order.
Because number 3 will get a frustrated, burned out and low functioning you. Here's what this priority would look like:
Love your neighbor. Build up the "low" places around you. Create an environment that trees can grow and thorns can die.
Serving is a position of honor. It is an offer of obedience to God. What better place to start than with the two most important commandments that Jesus gave. Let us start today to do what is right in the eyes of God. He will never give you more than you could handle, but He will give you more (things that bless your life) than you can ask or think.
Written by: Fiona Pyszka