As a social worker and a Christian, I often confuse helping and assisting someone with trying to fix their lives.
The message at church yesterday hit home with me as it did several of my friends. We realized that we are taking on more burdens and baggage than we should be. Overextending ourselves to the point of just being plain burned out.
God wants us to be there for others. He wants us to support others with their burdens. He wants us to assist those that need assistance. But there has to be limits. We can't take on too much, otherwise we have nothing left to give.
It's not easy to say no. It's not easy to say that you're too busy. I'm in the "helping profession" because God gave me the skills and talents to empathize, listen and care for others. So when someone asks me for help I usually say yes. When someone asks me to plan an event, I usually say yes. But yes isn't always the right answer.
I don't like feeling burned out. I've been there many times in my life and usually my body lets me know when enough is enough. I physically shut down by becoming ill or weak.
It's all about balance.
Just as you shouldn't take on more than you can handle, you also shouldn't just automatically say no to everything. To be idle is not good. To have faith without works is not good.
Our pastor gave the following example: If a friend called to ask for your help as they were stranded on the side of the road, you would go to help them. They might ask you to take the kids home or to take them to school. No problem. But then they take it a step or several steps further...could you take them out to lunch? Could you take them to soccer practice at 4pm? Could you fix them a home cooked meal and tuck them into bed? And if they act up can you discipline them? Little Johnny is potty training and sometimes has accidents, can you clean up after him and make sure he gets clean underwear on?
At some point your offer to help has become something completely different.
Burden? Baggage? Responsibility?
Balance.
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