Day 14: I’m Doing the One Important Thing: Being with Jesus!

I used to think that the busier I am in my service toward others, God would be more pleased with me, and perhaps, I would gain more favor from Him. The motive behind the service or my “works” mentality, is not just about pleasing God; ‘twas also to look good in the eyes of others. When people laud me for all the good things that I was doing, my ego got stoked. I’ve also convinced myself: God must “reward” me for being that good! I later realize that this mentality is pharisaical in nature, having a holier-than-thou attitude, and this is not what God intends His children, including myself, to be doing.

Don’t get me wrong, being of service toward others is a great thing to do, and for every born-again Christ-believer, being service-oriented is an expression of our new nature in Christ. For while Jesus was on earth, He was with His people and serving them every way He can – healing the sick (Lk 6:19), providing for them (Phil 4:19), and ultimately dying for them on the cross for all their (and our) sins (1 Cor 15:3). Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever (Heb 13:8), we can be assured that this is what He also wills us to be doing, as His hands and feet here on earth now (1 Cor 12:27) for a world crying for help.

Before any Christ-believer can be of true and selfless service toward others, without a hidden agenda or undesirable motive, one has to be full of the Spirit (Eph 5:18), rooted in the love of God (Eph 3:17), and unshakable in the sure foundation of Christ (1 Cor 3:11). And this can only be done by being with Jesus!

Take the story of the sisters Mary and Martha as recorded in Luke 10:38-42

Now it happened as they went that Jesus entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “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.”

As shown in the story, Jesus defended Mary from Martha. And what was Mary doing? She was immersing herself in the presence of Jesus – by just being with Him. Contrast that with Martha and what she was doing. Although she was busy “serving” the Lord, but to Jesus that was not really the good part. For Jesus, He placed more emphasis and higher regard in spending time with Him. It’s the one thing needed, according to Jesus, which will not be taken away from those who seek Him first.

Let us, therefore, prioritize being with Jesus – spending time with Him and His presence. And the more we do this, the easier we are able to serve others.