Working or Spending?

Would you say you feel more comfortable working for God or spending time with God? 

This question was posed on the Facebook page for Sharon Jaynes a few weeks ago. Sharon is a devotional writer for Girlfriends in God. I enjoy her writing immensely. This wasn't part of a devotion, just a question she tossed out. It got me to thinking -- this thinking can be a dangerous pastime!

 

Do we get so busy doing things for God that we forget to spend time with God? Do we serve in our churches and communities until we have nothing left to give to our families?  Does Satan confuse us into thinking that working for God and having a relationship with God are the same thing? Do good Christian people fall because they fail to spend quality time with their Creator? How is that for a large parcel of questions? I don't have the answers to any of them, but it is something to seriously think about.

 

We shake our head in wonder at folks in ministry who get caught committing acts that go totally against everything they have been preaching, teaching or doing for years. Did they get so busy doing that they forgot the One they are truly serving? How many warnings did they hear from the Holy Spirit that went unheeded? For every bad choice out there to make, God gives us opportunities to make a good choice - we just have to be willing to see it and take it.  I love this verse from 1 Corinthians 10:13 -  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  

 

God has provided a way out for ever temptation you may come across. Sometimes the way out is a simple "no". Many of us are horrible at "no" and run ourselves ragged trying to accomplish all the things we said "yes" to! Churches need workers. Communities thrive on volunteers. I will never discourage anyone from serving, BUT I will encourage you to take a good hard look at your schedule. If you find you have no time left for your family or for prayer and Bible study time, it may be time to reassess and refocus. Keep running and Satan may just put out his big, ugly foot to make you trip and fall flat on your face. The good news is when you are down and out you have nothing left to do but cling to the foot of the cross. Make time for Jesus, you won't ever regret it. 

I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart. (Jeremiah 24:7 NIV)