Monday, December 1, 2008

Can I Get Some Help?


Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest. (Luke 10:2)


Do you ever find yourself feeling overwhelmed like there’s just so much to do in so little time and more importantly – so little help? I know I feel this way myself from time to time. Isn’t it irritating when you look around and coworkers appear to be relaxing while you are struggling to do your best, meet deadlines and no one even offers to give you a hand? It’s even more likely that you may find yourself feeling this way during the holiday season with shorter weeks and the same amount of work to be done. Whether you are a ministry leader, CEO, or a homemaker there will come times when you feel like you are the only one working. I can recall there being plenty of times that I worked hard silently until I couldn’t take it any more and finally blurted out “Can I get Some Help”.

In fact, I found myself feeling a little over worked and under appreciated last week and the Lord led me to the 10th chapter of the book of Luke. I was originally thinking about Martha as she busied herself around the house while Mary sat at the Lord’s feet. Martha finally got upset and nearly demanded that Jesus make Martha help her. Jesus told Martha (in so many words) to mind her own business because Mary was doing what she was supposed to be doing (story). I was convicted as I looked at my coworkers. I realized that I was behaving like Martha. I wanted them to work a little harder because I was at my wits end. Instead of asking them for help or praying that God would send me help. I caught an attitude. Yes, I did.

Just because we aren’t always able to monitor the progress of others doesn’t mean that they aren’t being productive. Just because we don’t feel rewarded or appreciated by others doesn’t mean that we should stop doing what we know needs to be done. As long as we do what we are supposed to do it will pay off in the long run.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)

I realized that Martha was actually doing good deeds but her attitude and the spirit in which she was working made her efforts worthless. In her attempts to lift herself up, Martha put Mary down. Martha was discontent because Mary wasn’t working as hard as she was. Martha wanted Jesus to see how hard she was working. She wanted Mary to realize that she was working (physically) harder than she was in hopes that she would join her. I don’t think that Martha wanted to take Mary away from the Savior. I think she wanted her to give her a hand so that she too could rest in His presence.
Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

I had to remind myself that I’m living this life so that I can live again. If I please the people: praise the Lord. If not, praise the Lord anyhow. All that matters is that Jesus is pleased. I came to the conclusion that I’d far rather my reward in heaven than here on earth by the compliments, accolades and even appreciation of people.

After I settled down and went back to read the rest of Luke 10, I realized that that I had no help because I didn’t ask God for help. Jesus said that if we ask the Father for anything in His name that it would be given to us. Why did I think it was any different with help? It’s amazing how we can go to God with some things and dismiss other things as things that we can handle.

It’s not just “help” that I needed but I needed the right kind of help and the right people to help me. Had just anyone helped me and we weren’t on the same page, their help could have actually been counter productive. I bless God for His word and showing me more and more about me in it everyday.

What do you do when you find yourself over worked and under appreciated?

7 comments:

Parkay said...

Hey Shanita, very nice post.

I can truly relate. I am happy to say that I am getting a little better in this area. I'm learning that we all have a purpose even when we don't like it or think its not what we're here for. Your post reminded me of the situation that is going on with me and my siblings.

Without writing a book, lol, I will try to keep it simple. I am the oldest out of 6 and have always been the go to person in our family. After my mom's death I was mentally and physically tired and didn't want to be the one that everyone depended on. But of course I had no choice. I had to plan everything, etc, etc.

Anyway, I was thinking out loud "why is it me all the time" to "why not me". God gently revealed to me that I am a very giving person just like my mom was. To get to the point I am trying to make, my siblings were expecting me to take their hurt away. Well I couldn't. I needed some "me" time and time to grieve my mother's death alone. I couldn't help them because this time, I needed help. That help is coming from God. Nevertheless, God is working on me daily and its a blessing to know that I am not alone or the only one going through these feelings.

Thanks Shanita, for reminding me that it will never be all about me. May God continue to Bless you as you carry on his work! PEACE!

Spring M Fricks said...

thank you, this was a good post.

I often feel as though I am so busy I am not accomplishing what I should be accomplishing. As if I'm a Mary stuck in a Martha body. I can't get through my work to get to God's work. There is such a balance needed when it comes to this and I am still learning.

HALLELUJAH said...

I have a one man job, if the work is not complete my boss has only one person to ask?

Thoughtful blog.


GOD Bless~~~

Shanita Waters said...

@ Parkay... I just love it when you stop by. Thank you for your encouragement and kind words. Your comments are NEVER too long. I thought I replied to you yesterday but there must have been something wrong with the system. Anyhow, I know it's not easy to be the "go to" person in your family. God wants us to cast everything on Him. This battle is not ours - it's the Lords. I believe God allows us to be overwhelmed so that we can realize that we are not equipped to be everything to everyone. He wants us to look to Him because our help comes from Him. The older Saints are always saying that God never puts more on us than we can bare. without Him, we can bare nothing but with Him we can do all things!

@ Soring Fricks- I'm still learning to balance things as well. Thank God we have the best teacher to instruct us along the way.

@Hallelujah - God bless you. Thanks for stopping by.

Just To Praise Him... said...

My friend, it is past time for we women to stop takinig everything the enemy throws at us and begin to walk in the authority that is our inheritance!!

Julie Gillies said...

Hi Shanita,

Thank you for visiting my blog - it's nice to meet you.

When I'm tempted to feel unappreciated, I try to remember that everything I do is unto the Lord. HE sees all I do, so it's all good.

Blessings to you!

SLC said...

What a question. I try to evaluate what I'm doing and why I'm doing it. If I see that it can wait, or that it's no longer necessary then I table it. If everyone around me is chillin' and I'm stressing which does happen, I pray for the Peace Of God, shake off the anxiety, and take a break with God. When I get back to whatever it is I was doing, I do so in worship mode.

Some people drink to take the edge off. I prefer worship.

Great post as always, have a blessed week.

SLC