Part eleven of our new Missions Matter Series, come back each week to find out more about serving those around your home and community as well as around the world. God has given us the power to be His witnesses! Start today…

By Heather Radu-

Serving the poor is a blessing. There is nothing quite like getting involved in someone’s life and making a difference. I know I have always loved seeing the light in a child’s eyes the first time he or she realizes that they have come to a loving environment at Dorie’s Promise. For all the blessings that come with service, though, we need to acknowledge that there is a price as well.

When Jesus spoke to others about becoming his disciple, he encouraged them to “consider the cost.” It’s important for us to do that with our service opportunities as well. For instance, if you get involved with underprivileged kids, how often will you see them? Once a month? Once a week? And what will you have to give up in order to keep those appointments?

Our schedules in the United States feel very tightly packed. There are things pulling at us from all directions. But in truth, how many of the things that we do are essential? How much time do you spend on FaceBook and Twitter, for instance? How much TV do you watch? If we trim the fat from our lives, we will be healthier and we will have a greater freedom to serve other people.

I want to encourage you to take a long, hard look at your schedule. There will be many non-negotiables, like worship, family time, and work, but there are also areas in which time can be saved. Do not be afraid to get rid of things that feel very important to you. If God is truly calling you to serve, you need to take every opportunity you can to do it. If you do, you will wonder why you didn’t start sooner.

You might also find that working in order to buy more and more gets in the way of service. Sometimes it feels like all our culture wants is for us to turn into buying machines. In a situation like that, how can we focus on serving others? Look around your house right now. I’m sure most of us have possessions hidden away that we wonder why you ever bought. So if we can count the cost and change our time and money priorities, we can be free to serve others in a fuller, richer way. How can you count the cost today?