Servanthood vs setting limits how do they work together?

[Daniel_Marsh]

As Christians we are servants to all.

But, there are people who take advantage of us.

How do we know where to set limits?

Where does servanthood become too much?

Jesus tells us to go the extra mile, but he does not tell us to go ten miles thus a limit pass what is expected is set.

 

[forthright]

He also tells us to not cast our pearls before swine, which I have always understood to mean “don’t put your time/talent/treasure into endeavors where your efforts will simply be abused.”

I have also always heard that true love for another is to want the very best for them at all times, which ultimately means we want heaven for them. If we allow people to take advantage of us, I think we are hurting them in the long run and not helping them. Thus, true love for those who would want to take advantage of us is to not allow that to happen.

 

[Della]

I think what you are talking about, Dan, is the difference between ordinary virtue and heroic virtue.

Those who are canonized by the Church were called to heroic virtue. God asked them to do much more than he asks of most of us. And for that reason they are examples to us of what can be done when we give without counting the cost.

However, most of us are called to live in holiness in the ordinary circumstances of life and will never be asked to be martyrs or to found religious orders or serve the poor to the exclusion of all else.

Most of the saints in heaven are ordinary people who lived out their baptismal vows in their day to day lives without recognition from anyone except those who benefited from their faithfulness and generosity.

 

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi Dan,

I have problems saying no. I am slowly learning how to say no.

What I do is when I am asked I simply see if I can put it into my schedule. If I can I do it. If I know I physically just cant add another thing without my family being effected I say no. Two people called me from church today. One person asked me if I could organize refreshments for the Christmas play in a couple of weeks. I have done this in the past–it is easy. However, I recently became the coordinator for a homeless ministry in my church and the homeless guests are coming to our church in December. It is a big project to organize volunteers for this ministry. I felt bad saying no but the timing was bad. I told her I would have done it if IHN was not also arriving in Dec.

If I do too many things within my church plus help out friends and neighbors–my husband(who is not religious)gets angry and that is not good.

If we spread ourselves too thin we will not be effective and then maybe even resent all we do and that would not be glorifying to God.

If something comes up that you can do then you should.

Let’s not foget prayer in all of this Go will give you the strength and wisdom just ask