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Questions & Answers

Service

Faith Q&A › Metropolitan Youssef › The Church › Service

The question

I am having a very difficult time in serving at church.  I'm involved in too  many things and I'm feeling swamped. There are only a few things that I'm genuinely committed to, and the others I do out of obligation. I don't want to be seen as involved in many things or preferred over other people.

Now I am haunted with a feeling of guilt that if I leave, I will come across as an insincere and weak person who can't make up his mind about anything. I'd rather take one small task and do it with all my heart than do a whole bunch and be mired in frustration and confusion. Is it ever proper for a servant to step away from something that he has been given to do?

The answer

Is the feeling that you are swamped with too many things because you don't really have the time to do them, or because you just feel it is too many responsibilities for you? When we commit ourselves to serve the Lord, it should not be out of obligation or because we couldn't say no but because we are willing to submit to what the Lord calls us to do. It is not up to us to say I will do this and not that, but whatever service is needed and is in our capability to perform, we should be gladly willing to do "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ" (Col 3:23-24). As for your feeling that you might be taken as being preferred over others; are there really other competent servants that can do those services? If there are, why, do you think, the clergy member or another servant did not ask them but has asked you to help? Why would competent servants be alienated? Do a self-evaluation and assess your service to see if it is just a burden, or does it have a returning spiritual benefit for you? Do you grow spiritually with the service or not and why? Do not give in to anguish nor wait for the unknown but think positively and submit to the will of God remembering always "Let all that you do be done with love" (1 Cor 16:14).

Answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab)

Related questions

Questions answered by His Eminence Metropolitan Youssef (opens in a new tab) of the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. Question 567 on the Diocese’s Q&A site. Questions and answers © Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States. All rights reserved.