Me and Not Me

Posted byoakhillcrossvillePosted inUncategorized
Good morning everyone,

Our theme for this month: “Selfcare”

Our Bible verse for today: “Carry one another’s burdens … For each person will have to carry his own load.” Galatians 6:2;5 (CSB)

Our thought for today: “Me and Not Me”

“Carry one another’s burdens” says the Apostle Paul in Galatians 6:2. “For each person will have to carry his own load” says the same Apostle Paul just three verses later in Galatians 6:5. “He ain’t heavy he’s my brother” goes the popular song that urges us to do what Paul wrote about in 6:2. “Not my circus; not my monkeys” goes the clever ditty that echoes Paul in Galatians 6:5.

Is your head spinning? Are you confused about which end is up? Should we carry someone else’s burden or not? Do we have to pay attention to the chattering monkeys in the circus that is not ours or can we ignore them? The answer is a resounding “yes!” Help them carry that burden, sometimes. Then let them carry it alone at other times. Help to silence those chattering monkeys in someone else’s circus, sometimes. And then ignore them at other times.

This requires balance and discernment. It requires clear boundaries that are well thought out and respected. In the words of Henry Cloud and John Townsend in their book “Boundaries,” “Boundaries define us. They define what is me and what is not me. A boundary shows me where I end and someone else begins …”

Having clearly defined boundaries for yourself and for others helps you to know what is yours and what is not, and what you are responsible for and what belongs to them. It also gives you the freedom to say “no” when saying “no” is what is called for. Boundaries show you where you begin and where you end, and they also help to control how and when someone else and their issues can become part of your life.

I’m not saying this is easy. It isn’t. Doing this well requires wisdom and discernment. It requires sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and it is something we learn to do. As a pastor I wrestle with this dilemma all the time. If you come to me for counsel about financial problems, I will try to help you see some things you can do to solve your problem, but I’m not going to solve it for you. If you call me at 9:00 on a Friday night to discuss a non-emergency church issue just because that’s a convenient time for you to talk, I’m probably going to let your call go to voicemail and I’ll talk to you when I see you on Sunday. (Boundaries!)

 We will consider this more in the days to come. For now, I encourage you to give some thought to the boundaries you have established regarding your interactions with others – others who genuinely do need your involvement, and others who may be leaning a bit too heavily on you and who should be doing more for themselves. Ask yourself, “Is this me or not me? Should I own this or is this theirs?”

God bless,
Pastor Jim

(If you like what you’re reading in these daily devotionals, and if you would like more content from Oak Hill Baptist Church, join us on Sundays at 10:00 – in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you just can’t make it, online at www.YouTube.com/@oakhillbaptistcrossville
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