Am I Serving Christ Enough?

“Am I serving Christ enough?” I have heard that question numerous times. Many Christians are plagued by guilt that they are not “doing enough,” and are crushing under the weights of service and expectation in the church. If you have been in ministry long enough, you may understand that there can be times that it can feel like a chore or burdensome. Stand therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke a slavery. Galatians 5:1. It is wrong to put a burden of law keeping on Christians. At times, Christians can be made to feel that they should be doing this or that.

Many people nowadays are just overloaded with responsibility, and to add just one more thing to their life can be stressful. Christians can be some of the busiest people. There can be a “busyness” in doing and not “being.” Serving Christ should happen, however, service to Christ can look different for different people. Some people serve within the “church walls,” others serve at home, with family, and in their ordinary, everyday life. Which way is right? Neither, God has given each one of us unique gifts. Do not allow yourself to compare how you serve with what you see other’s doing.

There are a few reasons that Christians serve, some are good reasons, but some can lead to burn-out quickly. Oftentimes, service to Christ can become warped. For some, there is a belief there is a “catch” in obtaining God’s love and His salvation. Hence, “good works” is birthed from this misconception. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works...Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works is dead. James 2:14&17. We cannot earn our salvation by serving and obeying God. Works of loving service are not substitutes for, but a verification of our faith in Christ. Serve Christ in the way He tells you, not by feeling you will not “earn” salvation.

The way God will show us to serve Him will not be burdensome, but a joy. Get plugged-in to what Jesus wants you to do. You may feel it is not enough in what he shows you. Once again, it is not about “doing,” but honoring and serving God in the ways He desires.

There are others who serve Christ to please people and gain approval. There can be a real desire to be recognized by man. Some in the church may even highly esteem you and give you accolades, so in turn you do more to please. This type of serving usually involves important titles and positions in the church.

Be set free to know that you do enough in serving Christ, and that you cannot earn salvation by your works of service. God loves you, not what you do or how you perform.

In what ways have you been under the “bondage” of serving? Share your story. I would love to hear from you, and to share with our readers.

His Divine Rest

A lot of people of God are worn-out, tired, and lacking Holy Spirit fire. We are worn-out and tired for several reasons. We try to please man and not God. We are more concerned about what people think of us or will think of us than what God wants us to do. We don’t want to let people down so we do things God has not told us to do. We have difficulty managing our lives and our lives are out of balance. We feel we have to be a part of every church activity and have to be at every church service. We look around at what others are doing and we try and do what they are doing, but God does not call everybody to do everything. There are some Christians who want to be “super Christians,” but that is not God’s plan for your life. God has something for each of us to do, but He does not have everything for us to do. We are worn-out and tired because we don’t say, “No” to our family and friends. There is a time to help when the Holy Spirit directs you and then there is a time to let it go and let God. If you are trying to be everyone’s Holy Spirit then you are not in His Divine rest.

As Christians we believe that if there is a need we must meet it, and if there is something my church is doing I must be a part of it. There is a Divine order to your life and it follows in this order: God first, marriage second, children third, and lastly work/ministry. That’s right, your main concern right now may not be to be helping everyone in your church but being there with and for your family. A lot of Christians have this order all wrong, and you especially see this order at of place in church leadership. I do not believe that is how God wants us to live; out of order. If your family life is falling apart or your children are in need of more family time, then it is time to reorder your life. You will risk burn-out, being worn-out, tired and frustrated if your life is out of balance.

A balance in your life will led to His Divine Rest. If you’re doing more in one area in your life, then chances are your life is out of balance. For instance if you spend most of your time doing church activities and attending church services then building your marriage; you are out of order. If you are tired and worn-out from doing; then stop doing and start being. Being in His presence more than being at this event or activity or even helping when it is not God-led.

Divine rest means your life will flow and it will have peace, rest, and order in each area of your life. One area in your life won’t be larger than other areas in your life. This is especially important to people in ministry, church leadership, or anyone else serving in His Kingdom. If you are not taking a Sabbath day in your week, and you are filling your time with needless things, you are in jeopardy of getting burned-out. There is such a thing as ministry burn-out. When you are “burning the candle at both ends” it is hard to see you may one day wear yourself out. A lot of people believe they have that kind of energy and endurance to last a lifetime, but we don’t. Our bodies are created for rest and balance. You don’t even have to be in ministry to get burned-out. You can just be a misled Christian believing that as a Christian you have to meet every need and have to help at any cost. This kind of thinking and doing will also burn you out. I have seen this time and time again working in ministry and being around Christians long enough. We are not supposed to be and do everything. We must pray and wait for the leading of the Holy Spirit.

 When we enable, fix, try to control outcomes, and feel responsible for everything and everyone we are in danger of falling into Christian Co-Dependence. This type of Co-Dependence is different then secular Co-Dependence that you may know about. Christian Co-Dependence is a set of beliefs and behaviors that Christians do that support and enable others dysfunctions, addictions and bad habits. As Christians, we fall prey to this because of the belief or lie that as Christians we are supposed to do everything that comes into our path. This type of behavior will also led to burn-out and exhaustion. Co-dependence can get confusing because it is wrapped around doing “good stuff.” Co-Dependency is shame-based and motivated by the needs of others, usually this stems from behaviors learned from our family of origin.

Side note: I will be teaching a Webinar on Christian Co-Dependence starting, June 17. Sign-up or refer someone who you believe would benefit from@ www.christianhopecounseling.com/online-bible-studies.html

There remains therefore a rest for God’s people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased form his works as God did from His.

Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.

Hebrews 4: 9-11, NKJV