Word@Work 075 - Mark 6:35-37
Published: Tue, 03/04/08
Word@Work from BeaconLight
Read Mark 6:35-37 By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. "This is a remote place," they said, "and it's already very late. Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat." But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?" (NIV)
The 'Working Hours Directive' was not a part of the ministry of Jesus! The disciples had come to that day, exhausted. They thought that they would have a 'day off' with Jesus ... and they got another day's work! Now the afternoon was getting longer, and the disciples may well have been thinking about their own stomachs: surely it was time to call it a day.
Jesus came back with a response they could not have anticipated, and clearly did not want to hear: "You give them something to eat"! They had already reminded Jesus that the location was remote, the time was late and that feeding the people was not their responsibility. Now, they added, that the cost would be prohibitive - a waste of the humanitarian funds, for people who could buy their own food.
When Jesus calls us to serve - it is to be done in the place He chooses, when He says, and it may seem to be a waste of sources. But we think like that, because we cannot see what He is doing. It only becomes clear after He has involved our faith and shown His power. Like Peter's infamous, "Surely not, Lord!" (of Acts 10:14), we are inclined to dismiss God's call to service ... if it does not fit our wisdom. But that really isn't very wise, is it? Better to follow Mary's instruction (John 2:5), "Do whatever He tells you"! That is the route of blessing for everybody.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for thinking that I can pick and choose which of your instructions I want to do. If you have a task for me to do for you today, at work, please show me and help me to obey. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
The 'Working Hours Directive' was not a part of the ministry of Jesus! The disciples had come to that day, exhausted. They thought that they would have a 'day off' with Jesus ... and they got another day's work! Now the afternoon was getting longer, and the disciples may well have been thinking about their own stomachs: surely it was time to call it a day.
Jesus came back with a response they could not have anticipated, and clearly did not want to hear: "You give them something to eat"! They had already reminded Jesus that the location was remote, the time was late and that feeding the people was not their responsibility. Now, they added, that the cost would be prohibitive - a waste of the humanitarian funds, for people who could buy their own food.
When Jesus calls us to serve - it is to be done in the place He chooses, when He says, and it may seem to be a waste of sources. But we think like that, because we cannot see what He is doing. It only becomes clear after He has involved our faith and shown His power. Like Peter's infamous, "Surely not, Lord!" (of Acts 10:14), we are inclined to dismiss God's call to service ... if it does not fit our wisdom. But that really isn't very wise, is it? Better to follow Mary's instruction (John 2:5), "Do whatever He tells you"! That is the route of blessing for everybody.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, please forgive me for thinking that I can pick and choose which of your instructions I want to do. If you have a task for me to do for you today, at work, please show me and help me to obey. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
You can read more of this Bible passage online - in English and other languages - share the Bible with your friends!
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