Jeffrey,<\/p>\n
I want to ask a question concerning non-government operations (NGOs) and volunteer groups. I have this desire to be part of such organizations and groups to help humans and contribute to society and humanity in general. But my challenge is that it can be time-consuming, which is affecting my presence in church (mostly weekly activities not on Sunday).<\/p>\n
Some brethren are seeing it as misplaced priorities, putting the world before Christ. But I see it has service to humanity, which Christ commands and besides is God’s purpose for our life not tied to serving man?<\/p>\n
Please Jeff I need your advice. Thanks and awaiting your response.<\/p>\n\t
Which is a greater service to humanity? Feeding someone a meal or helping a soul reach heaven? Sometimes we get focused on this world and forget that we are all passing through to another. “No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier<\/em>” (II Timothy 2:4).<\/p>\n Yes, we are to do good, but not to the neglect of what is truly good. “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith<\/em>” (Galatians 6:9-10). The phrase we need to take note of is “while we have opportunity<\/em>.” We all have limited resources: limited money, limited time, etc. None of us can do everything we would like. Thus, priority is given to God’s people and then to the world.<\/p>\n Imagine having an orchard during a drought. Which trees do you water first with the limited water you have? The wise farmer waters the most productive trees first because a larger harvest can be gained in this way. In the same way, we help out brethren first because it is more likely to lead to more people reaching heaven than pouring all our resources onto those who refuse to believe.<\/p>\n It is great that you want to do volunteer work, but fit it around the things that are most important. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you<\/em>” (Matthew 6:33). I know some groups have multiple events held every week and for many, not everyone is expected to attend. However, you should be with the saints when the whole church is gathering (Hebrews 10:25).<\/p>\n\t Thanks a lot.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Question: Jeffrey, I want to ask a question concerning non-government operations (NGOs) and volunteer groups. I have this desire to be part of such organizations and groups to help humans and contribute to society and humanity in general. But my challenge is that it can be time-consuming, which is affecting my presence in church (mostly…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[20],"tags":[194],"class_list":["post-40453","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-answer","tag-benevolence"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":9153,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/isnt-it-better-to-embrace-the-salvation-army-as-part-of-gods-gift-to-humanity\/","url_meta":{"origin":40453,"position":0},"title":"Isn’t it better to embrace the Salvation Army as part of God’s gift to humanity?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 28, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: God has given the Salvation Army a charitable nature and blessed it with members who similarly want to be 'like Jesus' who himself went against the conventions of the day to become involved with people who were poor, sick and rejected by society. Rather than narrowly home in on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":91285,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/volunteering-for-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":40453,"position":1},"title":"Volunteering for Service","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 16, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"by Edward A. Smith via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 18 No. 1, 31 March 1992 As a young man, I often considered joining our nation's all-volunteer military. Even though the pay was not great, the benefits and security certainly seemed to outweigh the chances of ever being involved in a major\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":42188,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-wrong-for-a-christian-to-join-a-secular-organization\/","url_meta":{"origin":40453,"position":2},"title":"Is it wrong for a Christian to join a secular organization?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 20, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Dear minister, I'm grateful I stumbled onto your site. It has been very helpful in finding answers to many specific questions I have. Thanks for your sound and biblical advice. It's hard to find these days. I have a question about Habitat for Humanity. I've recently been going through\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":15946,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/can-a-group-choir-sing-if-it-is-after-the-worship-service\/","url_meta":{"origin":40453,"position":3},"title":"Can a group (choir) sing if it is after the worship service?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 31, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I am a member of the church of Christ and I want to know is group singing OK during a fellowship? Of course, the fellowship service is dismissed and then the group singing begins. Can you please help me with this? Answer: Your terminology is confusing to me because\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":12664,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/what-is-the-creed-book-for-the-salvation-army\/","url_meta":{"origin":40453,"position":4},"title":"What is the creed book for the Salvation Army?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"October 1, 2007","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: I was reading your\u00a0articles about The Salvation Army and I cannot seem to locate a \"creed book\" that you quote. I also believe that what you practice and preach is false. I also believe that the legalism you practice will be the end of your ministry. I shall pray\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":89526,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/the-birth-of-christ\/","url_meta":{"origin":40453,"position":5},"title":"The Birth of Christ","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 19, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Author Unknown Consider the impact of Christmas on people. Some people who typically look as though they were weaned on a dill pickle may become full of holiday cheer. Someone who might normally be a tight scrooge may become generous and compassionate. For some, this is when they get together\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40453","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40453"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40453\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40453"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40453"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40453"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Response:<\/h2>\n