229 – Doing the Right Thing(s)

#faithbites #faithjourney thing

While I was taking my shower this morning, I thought of all the things I needed to do. (I don’t know about you, but I get many of my best ideas when I’m in the shower). Then it hit me, am I doing too many things or am I not doing the right things.

I am going to list all the things I do. This isn’t for pity or admiration, rather to illustrate a point. I work full time (in a new role in a new place), have two children and a wife, own a home (and all that goes with it), working on my Doctor of Education, volunteer at my church (lay director and sound), active politically, write #faithbites daily, volunteer with the girl scouts (cookie dad and fall product dude), having health issues, play video games, active on and social media. I may have missed one or two but this is a long list of things that I do. (I can also say I don’t do them all to the level I want to or should at times). I love them but sometimes it’s too much.

Upon thinking about all of these things, none of them are wrong in the sense they are bad or evil or don’t contribute. At the same time when you say are you “Doing the Right Thing(s)”, it’s not a matter of quality or necessarily quantity. You could choose to do one thing and it is the right thing. Likewise, you could do 10 things and those are the right thing for you at that time. This is not an easy topic, especially when all the things are good things.

Scripture on Doing the Right Thing(s)

• See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. – Colossians 2:8
• Show me your ways, Lord,
      teach me your paths.
  Guide me in your truth and teach me,
      for you are God my Savior,
      and my hope is in you all day long. – Psalm 25:4-5
• If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.- James 1:5

Reflection

I have so many things I want to do in life from vacations to careers to studying to just having fun and being. When I look at what I am doing in my life does that bring happiness? We have talked countless times about happiness not being through earthly desires but through the Lord’s plan. Our verses today, show us that we can be led astray through choices on earth. We also see that God will give us guidance when we lack wisdom of when we need help making changes. Then comes the hard part: Saying No.

Saying no to something that we want to do or something we have already committed to is difficult. When I do it, I feel that I’ve let someone down, that it’s a new burden on them in finding someone new to do that task. I also feel that I’ve lost ownership of that things. After time though, that passes and I realize that maybe it was a good thing to let go off.

I don’t have the answers today on how to make sure you are doing the right thing or things. Only that I continually pray and ask for guidance on what I should and should not volunteer for.

Charge

Warning, this one will be hard. First, pray for guidance on this task. Second, list out everything you do even the subpoints if it makes sense. Third, reflect on how you feel about each one. Fourth, write a list of pros and cons for those tasks. Fifth, make a prayerful choice on what you should continue and not. Sixth, communicate that choice and follow through. Lastly, thank the Lord for his guidance and support.

Lord, help me to follow this advice. Help me to understand what I should and should not spend my time on.