To be effective in ministry, we need to learn one thing – don’t take yourself too seriously. Don’t be too bothered about how people see you or treat you. Get over yourself. Don’t get stuck inside your own ego, because over time it will become your prison.
It is amazing that while Jesus was talking about His impending death and sacrifice, the disciples are caught up in a debate over who is the greatest. That is not the mark of Christianity. Recent events probably aggravated the situation - 3 disciples had the privilege of a mountaintop experience. And while they had a great time, the other 9 disciples had a shameful time. They failed to help a demon-possessed boy.
With unique experiences like that, it’s easy to feel on top of the world. No one has the same experience. Perhaps that causes some to be envious. And perhaps the 3 who had the special experience felt so spiritual about it that they looked down on the 9 who had failed.
When we focus on ourselves, there will be arguments and debates. This episode started with the disciples arguing with one another – and Jesus ends His teaching with “Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.” (Mark 9:50). Salt is being coined to describe our lives – we are to be a blessing to others, an influence in this world.
Don’t look at yourselves too much. Don’t focus your energy and attention on yourself. It will get you nowhere, just a meaningless ego-trip. Take a look:
The disciples started debating about their positions, their status. And then the next part we heard John telling Jesus, “We saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
Can you imagine, just a while ago the 9 disciples failed and now we have a new chap doing an effective ministry. “We asked him to stop because he was not one of us” – the disciples see themselves having certain privilege – only we can do it, we are Jesus’ true disciples.
We can see where their train of thought is leading them – they are beginning to see themselves as somebody special, they are beginning to think highly of themselves.
And we see how Jesus twisted the thought around…
Jesus brought in a child and said, be like him. And He made reference to the child all the way until verse 50. “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me.” (v.37)
• Matt 19:13 Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.
• They see them as a disturbance, a nuisance. Little respect for children. This are adults talking, children go away.
Can you humble yourself and welcome a child? You are actually welcoming me!
And be happy that others are serving, and probably doing it better than you.
Don’t think that you’re the only ones who can do ministry. You are not the only privileged ones.
“…anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Me will certainly not lose his reward.” (v.41)
Many people believe that touching the lives of others can be done only by some elite group of gifted people – with lots of talents, oratory skills, or strengths. But that is not the case. Any ordinary people can make a positive impact on the lives of others.
Get over yourself. (1) Stop focusing on yourself. (2) Stop taking yourself too seriously. Most of us think that we are more important than we really are.
STANDING ON OXYGEN TUBE
The story is told of a minister who was full of energy and enthusiasm for the Lord. One day he went to the hospital to visit one of his parishioners who was critically ill. The minister entered the room and saw the man lying in bed with a whole host of tubes and wires attached to his body. Without any delay the minister strode to his bedside and began to exhort him to be of good cheer. He was rattling away with pride, quoting Scriptures.
Soon the man started to wave his arms. This encouraged the minister, and so he exhorted him more and more enthusiastically. Finally the minister ended with a rather lengthy prayer. At the final "Amen" the minister opened his eyes just in time to see the man reach for a pad of paper and a pencil. Quickly he wrote something and handed it to the minister. Then the man turned his head and became unconscious.
The minister was deeply moved to think that his visit to this man had occurred in the nick of time. “I must be such an encouragement to him,” he thought.
Then he looked at the pad and read these words: "You are standing on my oxygen tube."
How do we do that? Listen to Jesus – He went on to talk about causing others to sin, becoming stumbling blocks in someone else’s life. Jesus used this illustration because in those times, this was probably one of the ways they execute the worst of criminals – history tells us the Syrians, Romans and Greeks use this way.
It may not necessary be a sin that you’re committing. When Paul talks about stumbling blocks in 1 Cor 8:10-13, he was talking about eating food offered to idols. If the one who is spiritually matured and understand the truth, feels proud about himself and do what he likes, he may cause great harm to weaker, younger Christians who are not yet strong enough in the faith to understand its meaning. As disciples we are not to be the cause for another brother or sister to sin or fall away from the truth.
Jesus says, if you cause someone to fall away by your foolish actions or pride, it is a serious matter. The consequence is great. Better to cut off limbs (physical) than lose your soul (spiritual), endure temporary pain, than suffer eternally in hell.
And then conclude with verse 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
I like the way Jesus puts it all together – look at the child, and be like a child.
• In a state of need - no special status – don’t see yourself too highly
• There are others like you - no special privilege – don’t see others too lowly
• Watch that you do not act foolishly - no special immunity – don’t be blinded to your own weaknesses
Make sure you have salt in you. And don’t lose it!
Our behavior affects other Christians more than we can imagine.
In his December 1985 article in Christianity Today entitled “The Covenant Companion” Lloyd Ahlem declares, “No one’s behavior is entirely his or her own business. . . . In our day of prized individuality and ‘it’s nobody’s business but mine’ attitude, we trip each other up in more ways than we recognize. Stumbling blocks may be unkind words we speak, un-Christlike actions we may perform, or questionable habits to which we cling. Is there some stumbling block you have placed in another Christian’s [person’s] pathway that the Holy Spirit is directing you to surrender to Jesus today?
Therefore to get over yourself, and check your ego – you need to think about others.
It has to do with people. Think about others rather than yourself. Be concern about people’s welfare. Don’t be a stumbling block. Have salt in yourself – be a stepping stone. Listen to their needs. Live an others-centered life! And you’ll be greatly blessed.
In fact, doctors tell us one of the major causes of poor self-esteem is self-absorption.
Someone asked Dr Karl Menninger, “What would you advise a person to do if he felt a nervous breakdown coming on?” Many people expected him to reply, “Go see a psychiatrist,” since that was his profession. To their surprise, he said, “Lock up your house, go across the railway tracks, find someone in need, and do something to help that person.”
...taken from John Maxwell’s Failing Forward, p.102.
Stop focusing on yourself. Then you won’t have an argument. Debates come because we are too focused on self – my ideas, my ways, my methods…
In the 1996 Olympics, the USA men’s basketball team did not do well. The amount of talent on the men’s team far outweighed that of their opponents, yet the players sometimes found it difficult to play together as a team. Meanwhile, the women did a very good job. They were exceptionally good in their teamwork.
What went wrong? Selfishness. When competition is fierce, selfishness makes it almost impossible for a team to win. It ultimately produces failure. If talent alone won championships, they would have won.
When people think about you, do they say to themselves, “My life is better because of that person,” or “My life is worse”?
Let us ADD value to people’s lives. First we need to put others first in our thinking.
• When you meet people is your first thought about what they’ll think of you, or how you can make them feel more comfortable?
• At work, do you try to make your co-workers or employees look good, or are you more concerned about making sure that you receive your share of the credit?
• When you interact with your friends, whose best interest do you have in mind?
Your answers show where your heart is. To add value to others, you need to start putting others ahead of yourself in your mind and heart. Jesus wants His disciples to get this right.
Conclusion
Get over yourself and start giving yourself.
Give what you can to the people who are important to you. Add value to their lives. And you can do that only if you learn to get over yourself. Be more concerned with what you can give rather than what you can get. Giving truly is the highest level of living.
Jesus: “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves…”
• Whom am I pouring my life into?
• Whom am I helping who cannot help me in return?
• Whom am I lifting who can’t help himself?
• Whom am I encouraging daily?
“Isn’t it strange that princes and kings
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
And common folks like you and me
All are builders for eternity?”
To each is given a book of rules,
A block of stone and a bag of tools;
And each must shape ‘ere time has flown,
A stumbling block or a stepping stone.”
[Author Unknown. Http://www.sermonillustrator.org/illustrator/sermon2/enrico_caruso.htm]
A stumbling block, a stepping stone, which are you?
