Self Reliance vs. The Need to Serve

It was an interesting Elders Quorum discussion yesterday.?Ǭ† We had the chapter in the book on self reliance (chapter 11 I believe).?Ǭ† What I particularly liked about it was that we actually had a class discussion where different members of the quorum were talking?Ǭ†and asking questions to each other, not asking and answering me.

?Ǭ†When I presented the lesson, I took a pretty firm stance on the whole Self, Family, Church order of taking care of one’s needs.?Ǭ† A few in the class disagreed with that position.?Ǭ† I was actually happy that someone cared enough to want to discuss it in a non-confrontational way.?Ǭ† It was good.

?Ǭ†It still leaves me wondering where the need to serve outweighs the need to be self reliant.

6 thoughts on “Self Reliance vs. The Need to Serve

  1. I think it is certainly a tricky balance. I didn’t get the RS lesson because my toddler wouldn’t let me. I should read it though.

    That’s good there was good discussion. That’s the way it should be.

  2. One of the messages I see in Matthew 10:39, and in Mosiah 4:26, is that putting oneself after others is often the best, or even the only way for us to meet our own spiritual needs.

  3. I really like that point of view! I wish I would have thought to say that.

    By putting others before yourself, you would tend to consider their need first, whether that be their need to serve or their need to be served.

    … which leads to the purpose and function of the priesthood.

    Nicely done!

  4. What you said in comment 4 reminds me of an experience I had in moving. I had previously given some service to a member moving into our area. He needed to put some things into a storage unit, or take them out—I really can’t recall which—and I provided some labor. This particular member had a wife who was almost totally intolerant of the Church. He couldn’t come to meetings without threatening his marriage, and therefore was almost entirely inactive, even though he had reached a point where he wanted to become more active.

    About a year later I needed to move some of my own stuff in a similar way, and I thought of him. I didn’t need his help, really. I might have found someone else or gotten by on the help I had. But I thought it would be a chance for him to have just a little bit of gospel contact, that his wife would probably feel obligated to allow. I wanted him to have that contact, and I wanted him to reap some blessings of service. So I called, and he came. I don’t know for sure if it enriched his life, but I hope it did.

  5. There are times where it does one good to recognize they can not be completely self-reliant and have to ask for help. It is humbling. Also, there are times where we must learn that we need to accept help, allowing someone else to perform service. This is also humbling, but is also an opportunity to have and express gratitude. I would much rather be the giver of service than the receiver, but we all need to have both situations in our lives. It builds empathy and compassion. The Savior served, but he also let others feed him, wash his feet… and they were blessed for it.

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