Leadership Notes From Mark 14
I got to share a devotional with a very special and talented group of people. It was the staff that I get to work with on a daily basis. I was honored to do it and hopefully God spoke through me. Below is a recap, the three points were taken from Mark 14:3-8:
(3) While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head. (4) Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? (5) It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly. (6) “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. (7) The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. (8) She did what she could.
DON’T TALK ABOUT IT, BE ABOUT IT
Mary poured the flask of costly oil without speaking. She just did it. No explanation, no hype, she didn’t draw attention to herself, she just did it.
We need to be people that take initiative. We shouldn’t wait for someone to tell us what the obvious thing to do is, we should be proactive and just do it. We also need to be people that don’t make promises we won’t come through on. Whatever you’re going to do, just do it. Don’t let your life be marked by what you said you were going to do, but by what you did.
If you’re on a church staff, there’s obviously approval processes you need to go through in order to do certain things. These aren’t the things I’m talking about. I’m talking about giving food to the poor, inviting your neighbors to church, picking up trash on church grounds. These are things that don’t need approval, nor are they things that need to be announced. These are things that you should just be doing.
“If we could all do more and talk less it might be a blessing to ourselves at least, perhaps to others. Let us labor in our service for the Lord to be more and more hidden; as much as the proud desire to catch the eye of man, let us endeavor to avoid it.” – Spurgeon
DON’T DO IT FOR THE MAN, DO IT FOR THE MASTER
Mary didn’t look to the disciples for approval. She had no concern for what man thought. She did what she did for Jesus only. She took no time to stop and receive accolades. She never stopped to make sure people were watching. She didn’t do it for man, she did it for the master. Your approval should come from God and God alone.
We can get so wrapped up in what people think of us. Sometimes we base our decisions solely on what a particular person is going to think. We’ll literally picture what that person is going to say about what we did. What we should be doing is picturing what Jesus would say about our actions, what He would think, how He would react.
“You should rise above such idle dependence upon man’s opinion; what matters it to you what your fellow-servant thinks? To your own Master you stand or fall. If you have done a good thing do it again. You know the story of the man who comes riding up to the captain, and says, ‘Sir, we have taken a gun from the enemy.’ ‘Go and take another,’ said the matter-of-fact officer. That is the best advice which I can render to a friend who is elated with his own success.” – Spurgeon
DON’T LISTEN TO CRITICS, LISTEN TO GOD
Jesus told the disciples in verse eight that Mary had done “what she could.” You may be in Mary’s shoes. You did what you thought was right, you gave it your all, you sacrificed something just like Mary sacrificed that expensive flask of oil, but outside influences are telling you that you did something wrong. Maybe you’re telling yourself that you failed. The critics might even be your own family. But Jesus isn’t criticizing you, He’s rooting you on, He’s on your side.
We also can’t take ourselves too seriously. Too many times I’ve walked off the stage so frustrated and angry at myself. I’m like, “Okay, I think that was the worst set we’ve ever played. I’m just going to drive home now and go find another job because I’m obviously a terrible worship leader.” But here’s the thing: no one else is thinking that. And Jesus for sure isn’t thinking it. In fact, not only is He not thinking that, He’s rooting for you! God is on your side, He wants the best for you. That’s pretty amazing if you ask me.
I hope this inspired and/or encouraged you, wherever you find yourself in life, leadership or ministry. Let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
Thanks for reading!
