Voluntary work...

[GrowingSmaller]

I try to put some time in doing voluntary work, although I am sick. I like to try and do something for the community, which pays my housing and medical expenses. Someone asks if I am getting paid for what I do, I say no, and he says I am "mad". This really hurts. I have the instinctive feeling not to work (green environment work basically) near this guy, the "vibes" teling me to stay clear. And then again there was work to do.

So I took my risk and paid the price, but on the other hand some passers by responded well. Thing is negativity sticks in my mind, so what would your advice be? Basically I think I ought to try and time things, stay clear of etc, and go with feelings, rather than have a gung ho approach. I have been through this before, doing stuff for the community unpaid, and peole drain your energy with "your forgetting something" type comments. Really though thats my spirit, I like community work. If you dont live your dream, youll live someones elses - a famour motivational maxim.

It just seems odd that certain peole are responding so negatively. On the other hand, the workers rights movement wants a fair day pary for a fair days work. "Theres no such thing as a free shift". Please any positive coments, or constructive remarks welcome....

It IS the ethos of society, work AND pay. So I guess its a heads and tails situation.

Flowers are nice though, and I like philosophy too. Jus a few non complaintive remarks to add to the mix...

 

[PloverWing]

At the end of my life, one of the things I will ask is "Did I make the world a better place? Is the world around me a little bit better because I was here?" And I hope I can answer yes.

You're trying to make the world around you a little bit better, without asking for any payment. Good for you.

 

[paul1149]

If this guy is getting paid for what he does, he may consider you a threat to his job. That's how the world works unfortunately.

In Christ, we're taught to be as innocent as doves, of course, but also to be as shrewd as serpents (Mt 10.17). Ephesians tells us to walk circumspectly and in wisdom. We're also trained to separate the sin from the sinner, and hate the former while loving the latter. Loving there does not mean liking, it means seeking their true best interests, which in fact may conflict with their present desires.

Finally, in Christ we are taught to seek His purposes above all, and to expect persecution at times for doing so. Colossians puts it this way.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. Col 3.17, 23-24.​

And 2Tim.

Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. -3.12​

I can't tell you what to do, but I can say that if I were in that situation, I first would try to ascertain whether I was in the will of Christ, if so I then would separate the sin from the sinner, work unto the Lord, and then I would rejoice in any resultant persecution. And if I didn't sense His presence in the activity, I would begin to look for something else to do.

 

[ToBeLoved]

I try to put some time in doing voluntary work, although I am sick. I like to try and do something for the community, which pays my housing and medical expenses. Someone asks if I am getting paid for what I do, I say no, and he says I am "mad". This really hurts. I have the instinctive feeling not to work (green environment work basically) near this guy, the "vibes" teling me to stay clear. And then again there was work to do.

So I took my risk and paid the price, but on the other hand some passers by responded well. Thing is negativity sticks in my mind, so what would your advice be? Basically I think I ought to try and time things, stay clear of etc, and go with feelings, rather than have a gung ho approach. I have been through this before, doing stuff for the community unpaid, and peole drain your energy with "your forgetting something" type comments. Really though thats my spirit, I like community work. If you dont live your dream, youll live someones elses - a famour motivational maxim.

It just seems odd that certain peole are responding so negatively. On the other hand, the workers rights movement wants a fair day pary for a fair days work. "Theres no such thing as a free shift". Please any positive coments, or constructive remarks welcome....

It IS the ethos of society, work AND pay. So I guess its a heads and tails situation.

Flowers are nice though, and I like philosophy too. Jus a few non complaintive remarks to add to the mix...

I think that this can be a very powerful verse for you.

1 Corinthians 10:31
"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

Know that there are some people who are unhappy in life and go out of their way to make others unhappy also. Criticizing and using their words to hurt. These people exist and are just a part of life that they are out there.

Do all that you do as unto the Lord. When you do your best and give God all the glory for the wonderfulness that is you, you will find that little snippy comments from people who are not loving will have little value.

Random acts of kindness also help take our minds off of negative things. Concentrate on the positive, being positive and doing positive things in your life. That will bring God glory.

 

[Aidan K]

I try to put some time in doing voluntary work, although I am sick. I like to try and do something for the community, which pays my housing and medical expenses. Someone asks if I am getting paid for what I do, I say no, and he says I am "mad". This really hurts. I have the instinctive feeling not to work (green environment work basically) near this guy, the "vibes" teling me to stay clear. And then again there was work to do.

So I took my risk and paid the price, but on the other hand some passers by responded well. Thing is negativity sticks in my mind, so what would your advice be? Basically I think I ought to try and time things, stay clear of etc, and go with feelings, rather than have a gung ho approach. I have been through this before, doing stuff for the community unpaid, and peole drain your energy with "your forgetting something" type comments. Really though thats my spirit, I like community work. If you dont live your dream, youll live someones elses - a famour motivational maxim.

It just seems odd that certain peole are responding so negatively. On the other hand, the workers rights movement wants a fair day pary for a fair days work. "Theres no such thing as a free shift". Please any positive coments, or constructive remarks welcome....

It IS the ethos of society, work AND pay. So I guess its a heads and tails situation.

Flowers are nice though, and I like philosophy too. Jus a few non complaintive remarks to add to the mix...

Society needs more people like you

 

[Steven Wood]

I try to put some time in doing voluntary work, although I am sick. I like to try and do something for the community, which pays my housing and medical expenses. Someone asks if I am getting paid for what I do, I say no, and he says I am "mad". This really hurts. I have the instinctive feeling not to work (green environment work basically) near this guy, the "vibes" teling me to stay clear. And then again there was work to do.

So I took my risk and paid the price, but on the other hand some passers by responded well. Thing is negativity sticks in my mind, so what would your advice be? Basically I think I ought to try and time things, stay clear of etc, and go with feelings, rather than have a gung ho approach. I have been through this before, doing stuff for the community unpaid, and peole drain your energy with "your forgetting something" type comments. Really though thats my spirit, I like community work. If you dont live your dream, youll live someones elses - a famour motivational maxim.

It just seems odd that certain peole are responding so negatively. On the other hand, the workers rights movement wants a fair day pary for a fair days work. "Theres no such thing as a free shift". Please any positive coments, or constructive remarks welcome....

It IS the ethos of society, work AND pay. So I guess its a heads and tails situation.

Flowers are nice though, and I like philosophy too. Jus a few non complaintive remarks to add to the mix...

I see what you're doing as commendable and what we all should be doing. Not only would it bring this nation and world back to where it should be but this is where you might lose me, it is what God COMMANDS us to do. I see you working with the debbie downer in another aspect though. As it stinks that it brings you down, Maybe working around them will bring their attitude up to match yours so long your attitude holds out. I don't think things should be done based on how much pay you get out of it. That's the problem with people. Give and it will be given to you, the first will be last and THE LAST WILL BE FIRST. If people stop thinking of me,me,me all the time we wouldn't need social media, our next door neighbors could stand talking to us so we wouldn't have to surf the web to call strangers our friends.

 

[yeshuaslavejeff]

I try to put some time in doing voluntary work, although I am sick. I like to try and do something for the community, which pays my housing and medical expenses. Someone asks if I am getting paid for what I do, I say no, and he says I am "mad". This really hurts. I have the instinctive feeling not to work (green environment work basically) near this guy, the "vibes" teling me to stay clear. And then again there was work to do.

So I took my risk and paid the price, but on the other hand some passers by responded well. Thing is negativity sticks in my mind, so what would your advice be? Basically I think I ought to try and time things, stay clear of etc, and go with feelings, rather than have a gung ho approach. I have been through this before, doing stuff for the community unpaid, and peole drain your energy with "your forgetting something" type comments. Really though thats my spirit, I like community work. If you dont live your dream, youll live someones elses - a famour motivational maxim.

It just seems odd that certain peole are responding so negatively. On the other hand, the workers rights movement wants a fair day pary for a fair days work. "Theres no such thing as a free shift". Please any positive coments, or constructive remarks welcome....

It IS the ethos of society, work AND pay. So I guess its a heads and tails situation.

Flowers are nice though, and I like philosophy too. Jus a few non complaintive remarks to add to the mix...

You may possibly be a good example in your post and situation.
(about working as you are able).
If only the people in the body of Christ (or who say they are in)
would work for the assembly/ body of Christ as written in Scripture OT and NT
there would be no needy person in the body of Christ.
From their posts and testimonies in person
a lot of people refuse to work though at all,
and a lot of people refuse to work unselfishly.

 

[Another Lazarus]

Works that you have given for free to people, God consider it a gift for Him.

May Jesus bless you all HalleluYAH

 

[dms1972]

I am in a similiar situation, I help out voluntary and unpaid at times as i am not able to work due to periods of depression, and because I felt wanted to be making some contribution.

I don't know why this person said this to you.

But in a way by saying it they perhaps may have temporily imposed their own attitudes, self-interest, fears, view of the world and what they think is fair on to you. What they are saying is subjective, based on what they think right for them.

I don't know if that helps, but if you feel it right for you to do voluntary / community work, keep going with it.

 

[dms1972]

I see what you're doing as commendable and what we all should be doing. Not only would it bring this nation and world back to where it should be but this is where you might lose me, it is what God COMMANDS us to do. I see you working with the debbie downer in another aspect though. As it stinks that it brings you down, Maybe working around them will bring their attitude up to match yours so long your attitude holds out. I don't think things should be done based on how much pay you get out of it. That's the problem with people. Give and it will be given to you, the first will be last and THE LAST WILL BE FIRST. If people stop thinking of me,me,me all the time we wouldn't need social media, our next door neighbors could stand talking to us so we wouldn't have to surf the web to call strangers our friends.

so how is this change this change from 'me-centredness' to come about? Sure example can play a part, but not everyone will change.

To have a christian society, most people would need to become christians, but that doesn't happen by man-made means, or manipulation.