There are often times when I am so busy trying to get on top of my schedule, I often forget important things. Sometimes I even observe people, truly important to me, fall by the wayside. I cannot help but recognize my own human inadequacies are the reason for this. (Not out of condemnation, but out of conviction!) You see, the example Christ gave us in the living of His life was a ministry devoid of inadequate or insufficient attention to the hurting and heathen.
Did He have important things to do, people to see, and places to go? The answer is an astounding, “Yes!” He even had people who helped Him to try to push His agenda forward. His disciples did whatever possible to alleviate and mitigate the distractions and clear the path before Him as well as to stem the tide of the onslaught of people pressing in on Him. Their perception was that He was too important and His time too valuable for the interruptions. However, Christ’s interest in the “least of these” shows us their importance to Him.
I am convinced that ministry must maintain a proper balance. For Christ, He saw a need for separation from the multitude, as well as the willingness to minister to every person who came to Him with a need, even though the disciples considered some of them to be troublesome. What a challenge this is for me! How did He do it? The only conclusion for a resolution I find is to rely on the Holy Spirit to empower us do the same. We need to learn when to hear the prompting of the Persuader when someone, like the eunuch, is searching for Truth; for they surely need a guide to help them understand. Likewise, we also need to find seasons when we “come apart”, lest we come apart! It is these times we are best served in order to serve. We can find solace in our families, solitude from negative attitudes, and soul searching with the Savior. This will grant us the serenity we need to minister in wisdom to those in need.
You see, life is not and never will be about me; it is only about HE. So, I must consider myself “the least of these”, willing to face untimely interruptions in the Spirit of gentleness and meekness. Balance is the best technique for alleviating the aggravating! We are then better prepared to bear the burdens of others.
Jesus taught His disciples the importance of unselfish service to others in Mark 9:33-37 “And he came to Capernaum: and being in the house he asked them, What was it that ye disputed among yourselves by the way? But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest. And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. And he took a child, and set him in the midst of them: and when he had taken him in his arms, he said unto them, Whosoever shall receive one of such children in my name, receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me, receiveth not me, but him that sent me.”
My friend let me encourage you…reject internal disputation that comes from self exaltation; but rather, in humiliation, focus on others elevation for their own restoration. Then, you will have a blast by being last; for if you are first, you may find yourself cursed!
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