God's desire is that he receive glory. His created all things to worship him. When we focus on working for him, serving him, or serving others without the priority of glorifying him, we often become discouraged, frustrated or even bitter.
A group had gathered in Bethany at Lazarus' home. Many had come to see Lazarus (a dead man made alive). All had come to see Jesus, the one who had raised him from the dead. Only one truly grasped the person of Jesus. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. John 12:3 NIV
Martha, bless her heart, certainly loved Jesus, but just as in Luke 10, in this story, she was again busy serving. We are called to serve. But, we are called to love God first. Perhaps, our priority is what leads to our weariness or discouragement.
Then, there's Judas, supposedly worried about the poor. When Judas' berated Mary's actions, Jesus quickly responded, "Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” We discover in this that Judas' was focused on material things and personal position. He was not at all focused on the person of Christ. Ironically, we have the poor with us always because as a church we haven't responded to their need. Jesus knew that Judas, if he had the money from the perfume, would squander it. Perhaps, we're not blessed because he knows the same of us.
In Jesus' final prayer before his crucifixion, we discover his "work."
17:1 These words spake Jesus, and lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said, Father, the hour is come; glorify thy Son, that thy Son also may glorify thee: 17:2 As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him. 17:3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was. 17:6 I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. ... 17:9 I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. 17:10 And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. Some form of glory to God is mentioned six times in this portion of his prayer. Amazingly, as Jesus prayed for his disciples -- and for us -- he prays that HE is glorified in us. That is our calling -- to bring glory to God; to point the world to Him.
Serving, meeting the needs of the poor, and all manner of good works should be results of our love for God. But, let's make sure we have the priorities in order. Love God first. Glorify him first. Seek him first. And from this, display Him to the world through how we live for Him and for others. |
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