By David Phillips
My supervisor at work likes to tell me that, as a frequently needed admonition. It’s not because I’m a bad driver, or because I’m always sticking my nose in other people’s business, but rather because I sometimes notice things that could be done, and try to take care of them, even though someone else should be responsible for them. Sometimes I wonder if his admonition stems from an attitude of, “You only get paid for doing just so much, so don’t do anything more.” If so, that really goes against my grain. Why not be as helpful as possible, when you can?
I’ll have to admit that in the secular world, he’s probably right, because if you are always doing what others are supposed to do, then they’ll never do their part. But what about regarding spiritual matters? Maybe we should think about this a little bit. Two or three things come to mind.
- First, there definitely are some things that God expects each person to do as their own responsibilities, and no one else can fulfil those obligations for them. No one can repent for you, pray in your place, or be baptized for you. God expects each of us to take care of those things for ourselves, and if we don’t do them, if won’t do us any good if someone else pitches in and takes up our slack”.
- But, there are things in all our lives that we need help with, and God is pleased when we support and assist one another in those things. We need to always be ready to bear one another’s burdens… Gal.6:2. The general doing good to all men… is addressed in that same chapter, verse 10. These are the kind of things that we do as a regular, daily part of Christian living.
- No less important is the attitude that should drive us in serving others. It was the attitude of the Good Samaritan that kept him from passing by on the other side of the road. It was Mary’s loving servant-heart that motivated her to anoint the feet of Jesus in John 12. When Paul described Onesiphorus as having oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains (2 Tim.1:16) he was describing one who took service seriously.
So, when it comes to other people’s affairs, stay in your lane! If you are tempted to take over for someone and do their work that they need to be doing, stay in your lane! But in the matter of doing good, rendering cheerful service, and abounding in the work of the Lord, it is quite permissible to be all over the road.