Devoted service or workaholic?

Where does the line lie between wholehearted service for Jesus Christ and being a workaholic?

These words appeared during the week in a 'tweet' from a friend and colleague, John Truscott, who works as a Church Consultant.  Church management is one of the areas in which he specialises and from time to time he broadcasts these 'tweeted' wise words to all and sundry.  My immediate response to his question was to suggest that it lies somewhere between the heart and head, by which I meant that service for Jesus should always be a matter of the heart.  Becoming a workaholic suggests, to me a problem of mental attitude.  I later added a 'tweet' of my own commenting that since God sometimes says "No" to things he is asked to do, it also means that it is right for us to sometimes say "No" too.

Of course, it isn't simple.  It may also not come as a surprise that I am often asked whether I am doing more than I should.  Many years I discovered that I was suffering from stress because I allowed myself to submissively accept all that my immediate superior dumped on me.  Every few months I would become mentally confused, unable to finish sentences because I couldn't remember what I wanted to say.  After giving me a thorough check up after one of these turns, my doctor told me that there were two possible things he could prescribe.  The first,he told me, was a course of Valium   I asked what the alternative treatment was, and was informed that it was learning to say "No".

I started saying "No" the next time a pile of work was about to be added to my existing heavy load.  I was informed that this was an 'ungodly reaction' but I stood my ground and haven't had a funny turn since that day over 30 years ago.  But I recognise that one of my weaknesses is not letting go or putting down that which God no longer expects me to carry.  I remember how surprised I was when I discovered that the Minister who had baptised me in my teens had some years later left the ministry and taken up a secular job.  But when I asked him about this he replied that God had called him into pastoral ministry and had later called him out of it.  If that is true then I wonder which step called for the greater faith and courage.

Of course there are some times when taking on a responsibility does not need a revelation from God.  In the parable of the Good Samaritan we are told that the priest and Levite just happened to be going that way.  We are not told that any of the three who saw the man were told by God to do something about it.  But one man did do something about it because he loved his neighbour.  Of course it was the right thing to do and he put the 'holy' men to shame.  But doing the right thing on that occasion was risky, inconvenient and costly.  I also surmise that he would have got messy in the process.

Avoiding doing the right think because we have not had a special revelation, or because of concern about the consequences will never excuse us in the Day of Judgement.  But perhaps when faced with a situation that demands our response we may need to say what do I need to stop doing or put down first.

The Past Week

It was a bit of a rush to get home from Yelvertoft and then back to Hothorpe Hall with everything ready for the service of marriage blessing in the afternoon.  Loraine and John had especially wanted this service and had even asked for communion afterwards.  All went well and the opportunity to share the good news through all the symbols was eagerly grasped.  I often wonder why Jesus used his power at the wedding in Cana just to ensure that folk had a good time.

It was good to meet in the week with Mike and Brian, two Methodist Ministers with hearts for rural evangelism.  I now have to follow up on the offers I made.  I get so encouraged when I find others whose heart God has touched for the millions of men women and children in rural Britain.

I am very grateful for those who sent donations following the letter setting out the need for extra support in these difficult financial days.  In addition to the gifts that were received there has also been a small response to the need to develop the Mission Link Scheme.  This is nothing to do with Doreen's and my personal needs; it is creating a strong base to ensure that the ministry is enabled.  Hopefully you read the Concerned About Rural Evangelism leaflet, but if not email me for another copy.  We do not need a huge amount of income but we cannot keep running at a loss!

Another great joy through the week has been the enquiries regarding the post of Children's and Families Worker for the East Midlands Area of the Congregational Federation.  Please pray as people consider taking up this post.  The deadline for applications is the end of October.  This is an exciting new opportunity and a very real need for the person with the right ministry.

Prayers this week please

• Give thanks for the financial support so far received in response to the recent letter.
• Give thanks for opportunities to share God's word through the week, especially at last Sunday's Marriage Blessing.
• Please pray for the ministry at Yelvertoft this Sunday morning and at Newton, near Rugby this Sunday evening.
• Please pray for the residential meeting of the Churches Group for Evangelization as we meet on Monday and Tuesday at High Leigh.
• Please pray for the Bible Discussion Group meeting on Thursday morning in Yelvertoft.
• Please pray for our church at Theddingworth as they celebrate harvest and seek to us this to share the gospel.
• Please pray for the work of Action for Christ.  Together with two other trustees and our part time admin staff I have been working for the past few months to rescue this work following problems created under previous management.  The next few weeks are critical for that organisation.
• Pray for next weekend as Yelvertoft Congregational Church celebrates its 350th anniversary with special events on Saturday and Sunday 20th and 21st October.
• Please pray that the gospel message shared through the past week will produce a harvest in the lives of those who heard it.
• Please pray for Brian, Rural Officer for Northampton Methodist District and Mike, a Circuit Rural Officer with whom I met in the week.
• Please pray for the trustees of Sunrise Ministries, that they may have wisdom in their responsibilities.
• Please pray for more small links in the Mission Link Scheme to keep our ministry on the road.
• Please pray for those who have received information about the Children and Families Worker that God will give guidance as we seek to fill this new post.

Thank you for your faithfulness.  We have a God who hears and answers prayer.

Barry