Have you ever come close to choking on food? Maybe you have successfully done so and were rescued by someone who performed the Heimlich maneuver on you. The ladies at work know well that I have a tendency to get choked even on liquids. It’s a running joke at the office.
The phrase “biting off more than you can chew” is another phrase that communicates that you have taken on more responsibility than you can handle. I had to take an honest look at my life recently and ask which endeavors I was connected to were distractions and which ones were really of God. While some things are great things for other people, they may not be meant for you.
Here are some things that are of top priority for me:
- Family – My first ministry is my family. If anything distracts me from leading them in the ways of God, I must remove it.
- Other Ministry – My weekday job and my service as a pastor are both ministries. You may think that I feel that way because my weekday job is that of a hospice chaplain. Even when I was doing custodial work at a plant, it was a ministry. Colossians 3:23, 24 admonish us to do work as if we were doing it for the Lord Himself.
Christ is the center of it all. Family, work, and Overcomers Church receive my greatest attention. Other things are great, but they cannot distract me from these things. We are only meant to “chew” so much. The rest is meant to be shared with others. Don’t bite off more than you can chew!
Matthew Winters (Honest Thoughts from a Pastor) 
Good advice, Chewing too much doesn’t produce a good outcome.
Amen, Jesus at the center of it all ♥
I like this post Matthew when you said, “While some things are great things for other people, they may not be meant for you.” and I feel this also applies to the gifts and talents that God has given us.
“We are only meant to “chew” so much. The rest is meant to be shared with others. Don’t bite off more than you can chew.”
Gr8 thought, and so nicely connected we should only pay attention on how much to are capable of handling excess responsibility will bring yourself in trouble..
Yes-family FIRST!!
Great thought! Good advise! 🙂
Truth!
This truly spoke to me this week! Thank you!
Amen, many Christians accept burnouts like it’s part of our job description, we were never made to burnout but to always be “being filled” with Jesus. I believe we take on too much when we forget it’s not about works but relationship. Thanks for the post!
I worked for a pastor that fell into this category. Thankfully, I went into a different situation with a pastor who understood and was realistic.