Mark 10:45 NKJV
For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve…
Yes, although it’s wonderful for us to serve God, that’s not God’s priority for us. Jesus came primarily to serve us (John 10:10, Matt 11:28). He wants us to take the place of the consenting sheep and Him taking the place of the good Shepherd. He wants us to sit at His feet and receive from Him – to take and take and take from our inexhaustible Supplier.
This truth is amplified in the story of Mary and Martha, whom Jesus visited at their house (Luke 10:38-42). The bible says Martha was ‘distracted with much serving’ and complained to Jesus about Mary who merely ‘sat at Jesus’s feet and heard His word’.
Jesus’s response:
‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’
See how Jesus defended the one who chose to sit at His feet to receive from Him! Jesus did not rebuke Martha for her serving heart, but for her cares and worries that shrouded her from seeing Jesus, the True Server (who is able to feed 5,000 people at a go) who was right there in her house! Instead of allowing to be fed by Him, Martha was trying to serve Him, while Mary allowed herself to be served by Jesus.
Let us prioritise to sit at Jesus’s feet and keep taking from our Source, our Provider!
But is this practical? Does anything get done just by sitting at Jesus’s feet?
Let’s look at Mary’s life thereafter. The bible recorded an account where she had the privilege to anoint Jesus with expensive ointment before His burial (Luke 14:3-9). The people there criticised her, but Jesus defended her again. Jesus made this outstanding statement: ‘Assuredly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is preached in the whole world, what this woman(Mary) has done will also be told as a memorial to her. (Luke 14:9)
What an honour from Jesus Himself! Mary’s posture of receiving resulted in ministry that even our God honours!
Indeed, the best doers are the best receivers!
We can also see that when Mary prioritised the one thing needful, she ended up at the right place and right time, fulfilling her ministry to anoint Jesus in His time of need.
In contrast, there were other women (Luke 24:1) who came later to anoint Jesus but they were too late because Jesus has already resurrected! They had good intentions but they ended up at the wrong place and wrong time.
Let Jesus serve us! Let us drink from the One who fed 5000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Let our cup be so filled with Jesus that ministry becomes an overflow of what He first poured out unto us!
Only one thing is needed 🙂
Amen!