Having grown up in the church, I learned from an early age that there are alot of hurting people in this world. My church was constantly organizing food drives, and days at the soup kitchen, and community cleanup days, and Vacation Bible School day camps, and mission trips....pretty much anything you could think of, somewhere in town someone was encouraging you that, as a Christian, you should help.
And for a while, I did just that. VBS, Key Club, volunteering at senior citizens' homes, fundraising, camps, teaching ESL, making costumes for church plays, working the sound and light booth during Sunday morning services, visitation, Sunday School....you name it, I did it. And I was absolutely exhausted. Some time between my young formative years, and my graduation from college, I realized that, although we are called to be world-changers, we are NOT called to save the entire world. We are called to save our world.
So often Christians get "guilted" into doing all of these great things because it's the "Christian" thing to do. They think that they have to do all of these things because they're good things to do, and if they don't do them they won't be a good influence and their testimony will suffer.
God has called us to "do everything to His glory." But taking on the role of Superman or Wonder Woman is not part of our job description. It is not a good testimony if we are stretched so thin that we cannot give our full attention to anything. It is not a good testimony if we take care of others, but neglect our family. It is not a good testimony if we are never home because we are always at church.
As hard as it may be to hear, but I really don't think that God wants us to serve in every opportunity that comes our way. He wants us to serve in every opportunity that He directs us to, and to decline the others. This does not mean that we have an excuse to never serve, saying "Oh well, I just don't feel called to serve." But we are called to take care of our family and yes, ourselves, first. If you and your family are not where they are supposed to be, then you will not be able to serve God and others effectively. That's the REAL christian thing to do.
And for a while, I did just that. VBS, Key Club, volunteering at senior citizens' homes, fundraising, camps, teaching ESL, making costumes for church plays, working the sound and light booth during Sunday morning services, visitation, Sunday School....you name it, I did it. And I was absolutely exhausted. Some time between my young formative years, and my graduation from college, I realized that, although we are called to be world-changers, we are NOT called to save the entire world. We are called to save our world.
So often Christians get "guilted" into doing all of these great things because it's the "Christian" thing to do. They think that they have to do all of these things because they're good things to do, and if they don't do them they won't be a good influence and their testimony will suffer.
God has called us to "do everything to His glory." But taking on the role of Superman or Wonder Woman is not part of our job description. It is not a good testimony if we are stretched so thin that we cannot give our full attention to anything. It is not a good testimony if we take care of others, but neglect our family. It is not a good testimony if we are never home because we are always at church.
As hard as it may be to hear, but I really don't think that God wants us to serve in every opportunity that comes our way. He wants us to serve in every opportunity that He directs us to, and to decline the others. This does not mean that we have an excuse to never serve, saying "Oh well, I just don't feel called to serve." But we are called to take care of our family and yes, ourselves, first. If you and your family are not where they are supposed to be, then you will not be able to serve God and others effectively. That's the REAL christian thing to do.
1 Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-33
23 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive. 24 No one should seek their own good, but the good of others...31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— 33 even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved. 
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