Learn When to Say Yes

God honors selfless service

Currently, I'm juggling responsibilities on three ministry teams at my church. In the kids' ministry, I teach elementary students twice a month and middle schoolers once a month. Additionally, I pitch in for productions whenever there's a need, typically once a month, and I lead a home group. 

Recently, we faced a challenging week where many of our team members were out sick. Despite already having teaching duties in the elementary room for the second service, I was asked to fill in for productions during worship practice and the first service, and also train a new person for the slides. Plus, it was the week we planned to promote our home groups between services.

This meant my schedule would be packed from 7 am to 1 pm with continuous service across three different teams. It was tempting to decline six straight hours of serving, and societal norms might even suggest that I should prioritize self-care. However, while it's crucial to know when to say no, it's equally important to discern when to say yes. Human nature often leads us to swing between extremes—saying yes to everything, leaving us exhausted, or saying no to everything, leading to laziness and selfishness.

And so I chose to say yes. And while I was tired afterwards, I knew that my faithfulness not only met a need, but honored God. And while I might never know the impact I made that week until I’m in eternity, I know it did make a difference. 

Finding a balance that honors God requires intentionality. Yes, it may involve moments of exhaustion in service to others, but compared to the sacrificial life of Jesus, it's minimal. Jesus gave everything, and we're called to emulate him. Choosing faithfulness and serving others is paramount, and the impact we make can be profound. In the book of Mark, Jesus says, "For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many." As followers of Christ, we are called to imitate this selfless service in our own lives.

However, this doesn't mean we should always say yes. Our actions should glorify God. If we serve for recognition or out of pride, it's better not to serve at all. Likewise, if we say no out of laziness or selfishness, it's a misguided choice. Our motive should always be to honor God and reflect his love in our actions.

Listening to the Holy Spirit is essential in our journey as disciples of Jesus. Letting Him reveal the intentions of our hearts helps us discern when to say yes and when to say no. While being able to say no is healthy, we must also learn to say yes when God calls us to action. 

So I continue to strive for this balance, saying yes to serve others with a humble heart and saying no when it's necessary for my well-being or the glory of God. And in doing so, I am reminded that following Jesus is not about perfection, but about surrendering daily to His will and allowing His love to shine through me. May we all seek this balance and find joy in serving others for the glory of God.  So, let us continue striving towards a life that emulates Jesus, selflessly serving others and bringing glory to God. Let us trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit and have faith that our actions, no matter how small, can make a profound impact on those around us. 

So, where is God asking for your yes? And where is He calling you to say no? Let us pray for the wisdom and discernment to know when to serve and when to rest, always seeking His will above our own. And may we find contentment in following Jesus' example of selfless service, knowing that it is a true reflection of God's love for us all.