#30to30: Day 21 & 20 - Saying NO in order to say YES

Life is beautiful and complex, and if not managed properly, tends to grow into a time-eating monster that pulls you in a gazillion different directions.

First there's work, or career, because how else are you going to eat?

And then there's your family, or lack thereof.

Next there are your friends - those here and now, and those that weave in and out of your present that you really want to maintain contact with. 

There's also ministry in church - all the things that nobody else is doing that you need to do, or all the things that people ask you to do because you either a) have the skill or b) are single therefore should have the time to do, as well as all the things you want to do. 

At the end of it all comes your passions and the dreams that you have for your life.

And one day you wake up wondering if you've short-changed yourself. And if God has short-changed you.

The thing is, busyness isn't what's required of you. What's required of you is to make God your "one thing" and allow him to set everything else in place, in its order, in His time.

It's just as easy to serve in church and to allow ministry to become your idol and your burden as it is to not serve in church and refuse to allow God to grow you through His people. The latter contributes to the former, and it's a destructive cycle that has to be broken. I'm not saying that everyone needs to serve in church. Some of your greatest ministries may be outside the church. But you need to serve somewhere. And in serving, you need to know why you do what you do.

There are many good things that need your help. But not all of these need you. And if you've come to a stage where the many good things that you do are draining you and distracting you from what you do best, there is the time to start saying no.

No, because you are one person and you have limited time.
No, because you are one person and you have limited energy.
No, because when you are pulled in too many different ways, you will not be able to do your best in any of them.
We're not called to be lacklustre Jacks of all trades in approaching God and his Kingdom. We are supposed to be excellent, skilled workers, bringing glory to His name.

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Colossians 3:23-24)

Do you see a man skillful in his work?
    He will stand before kings;
    he will not stand before obscure men. (Proverbs 22:29)

Whatever your hand finds to do, verily, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going. (Ecclesiastes 9:10 )

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Jesus said to him, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. (Matthew 23:37-38)

There will always be things that need to be done, and there will always be ministries that need people. However, you don't need to be involved in every single one of them. You can't.

And you can't serve God in the place He's called you to, if you're already too busy in all the places that He hasn't called you to be.

So sometimes, you really need to say 'no' in order to say 'yes'.

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So I was supposed to post this yesterday, then I forgot. Whoops. :)
So I expanded it and made it longer that I had originally intended it to be, in order to make it a double post. :)