This post is part of a 6 part series.  To read the previous posts, click here.

Guideline 1: Will my family, friendships, or daily God and I time suffer?

This is one of the first things we need to think about when dealing with doing all to the glory of God.  God is not glorified through something if it causes our relationships with others to suffer.

Jesus had a crazy schedule.  Massive crowds followed Him everywhere from morning ’til night.  But somehow He still found time to have a deep relationship with His 12 disciples.  He set an example for us.  Yes, He was very busy doing God’s work.  And that was good.  Yet He never let the rest of His life suffer for it.

We need to do the same.  Make sure that taking on that new responsibility or helping someone with something won’t take the place of your family, friends, and God and I time.  Those are some of the most important things in the entire world, and it is a horror to lose them.

That’s just the first question we need to ask ourselves.  Come back tomorrow for another guideline for doing all to God’s glory.

This morning, I was going to read a book before I started my day.  So I sit down and then tilt my head up.  I see the biggest spider I have ever seen in my entire life.  OK, maybe not that big.  Regardless, my heart skipped a beat when I saw it.  Then I realized it had a black ring on the top.  And as I looked at it more, I realized it was upside-down and not moving.  It was plastic.  I felt reeeealy stupid.  That “spider” temporarily caused me to be distracted from the task at hand.

Doesn’t Satan do the same thing to us sometimes?  We’re getting ready to do something great for God.  We’re stoked about it, and have prayed and prayed and prayed about it.  Then we look up, and see Satan’s “spider”.  It’s that great distraction that’s thrown in our way.  Maybe it’s a difficulty with the computer for Kids’ Church.  Maybe it’s an unexpected bill in your personal finances.  Maybe it’s the sinful fall of one of your personal mentors.  No matter how big or small the crisis, it’s all part of Satan’s mission to push you to sin.  To stop your program or event.

Strength from the Lord is vital to surviving these “spiders”.  Thankfully, you’ve been given a free pass to the throne of God.  Hebrews 4:16 (NASB) tells us, “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  God has given us an assurance that when Satan dangles those “spiders”, he’ll be right there to help us push past them and to carry out his will.  No matter how hard the time is that you’re facing, God has the ability to help you.  Take heart, and don’t worry.  That’s the way I see it.

I am a quote nerd.  I am simply one of those people that could just spend all day staring at a book full of quotes.  When I go to Starbucks, the first thing I do is look at the quote on the side of my cup.  I write down quotes during speeches.  I visit quote websites.  I know, I’m a nerd.

I’d just like to share a short little quote with you:
“The great use of life is to spend it for something which will outlast it.”
-William James

As you go into your Sunday morning, you may feel exhausted.  You may feel like it’s more exhausting than it’s worth.  But it’s not just about what you’re doing today.  The work you do today is impacting these kids today, absolutely.  Kids you touch today influence today.  Those same kids also form the future.  Who knows?  Maybe that nerdy semi-socially secluded boy will know something that would be of use to you, and might just get a calling to minister to children.  He might end up just like someone who happens to write a very good blog you read.