Wasted

Perhaps I am one of a few who worry about this, but there are times when I feel like I am wasting my life as the world would see it.  I have no full time job, no college degree, I still live at home, and it looks unlikely that my situation will change very soon.  I often struggle with this worldly mindset of "needing to do something" with my life so it "won't be wasted".  True, I am still young and have a lot of time, but as we all know, years start to pass away like months and months like weeks and before long it will be "too late" for me to do anything "worthwhile" with my life.  

As I was meditating on the lack of accomplishments in my life I read these verses in Mark 14: "And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper,as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. There were some who said to themselves indignantly, “Why was the ointment wasted like that? For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor.” And they scolded her. But Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”" (Mark 14:3-9)

This woman is absolutely incredible!  She took what was probably the most costly and important thing in her life and she gave it to the Lord! She gave it freely, it was not demanded of her, it was not asked of her, but she gave it of her own accord.  After she had given such a precious gift, she was chastised for not using it for a "better" purpose. 

Is this not the same reaction the world gives when they feel someone is "wasting" their lives. The world feels that a person who doesn't strive to become successful or use their resources to better themselves is a fool and disappointment.  If one's life is given to the Lord how can it be a waste? A life given for the glorification and service of God is the only kind of life worth living.  All other things will pass away.  Success does not last it is at the whim of the people. Education is only useful when one remembers what they have learned and often it will mean nothing when memory becomes less and less dependable. Money is only as good as the government and nations shall rise and fall.  The only thing that will last forever is the life that has been lived for the Lord. 

My conclusion:    Just as Jesus came to Mary's rescue when she was criticized for her imprudence, so shall He come to mine when the world's mindset starts to infiltrate my own thoughts.  I refuse to be ashamed of my lack of earthly accomplishments. I refuse to be bullied into thinking that I am worthless because I have not attained a certain standing in the world, or lack a certain degree, or am not striving for something more. These things can never satisfy my heart or give me a real and long-lasting sense of purpose.  My aim is so much higher than the here and now, my aim is eternal, it is for God, Himself, to love Him more with each passing moment, to know Him more than I have, to live more for Him.



P.S. Just so everyone knows, I am not against people getting an education, working in corporate affairs, or being successful.  I just think it can be easy to get into the mindset that this is what needs to be done rather than allowing for the Lord to lead and trusting Him when He leads us away from such things.

Loving Your Neighbor

This was shared at our small group tonight and I thought it was to good not to share with y'all!

"You Shall Love Him--Whoever He is

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Mark 12:31

What is it to love our neighbor? It is the loving that is hard. We could do almost anything else, short of loving unpleasant neighbors.

But love is the word--and no revised version changes it. No matter how disagreeable, unlovely, unworthy, our neighbors may be--still the commandment persistently and relentlessly says to us, "You shall love him!"

Our neighbors are around us all the time, needing our love. Indeed, they touch our lives so continually, that we must guard our every look, word, and act--lest we hurt some sensitive spirit. 

Some people seem to forget that other people have feelings. They are constantly saying words and doing things which give pain. True love is thoughtful. We ought to train our hearts to the most delicate sense of kindness, that we may never, even jokingly, give pain to any other human being.

Our neighbors have hearts, and we owe to every one of them--the beggar we meet on the street, the degraded wretch we find crawling in the mire of sin's debasement, the enemy who flings his insults in our face--to every one, we owe the love that is thoughtful, gentle, and gives no hurt.

Our love ought also to be patient. Our neighbor will have his faults. But we are taught to bear with one another's infirmities. If we knew the story of men's lives, the hidden burdens they are often carrying, the unhealed wounds in their heart--we would have most gentle patience with them. Life is hard for most people, certainly hard enough without our adding to its burdens--by our criticisms, our jeering and contempt, and our lack of love."

- J. R. Miller

The Mountaintop

As I was reading the other night, I was struck by this verse in Mark. It says that the disciples "came to Him" when Christ "called those whom He desired" to Himself. I thought about how sometimes I hear the same call but am afraid to go up the mountain because Self begins to speak to me and talk me out of the journey. The following is an account of such a time and promises that have helped me in the battle.


"And He [Christ] went up on the mountain and called to Him those whom He desired, and they came to Him."(Mark 3:13)


He, my Beloved, has gone up to the mountain, am I willing to follow?

The way is steep and treacherous; it may end in death!

But my Beloved has called me. I have heard His voice, and I must go!

But surely you could wait. Surely He will come down and meet with you here, as He has in the past.

No, He desires my company now. If He did not, He would not have summoned me, He would not have called me to come up. I will go to Him though seven deaths lay in between! He will uphold me and will not allow me to fall headlong. He will not allow me to be forsaken(Ps. 37:24-25).

But you lack strength, and you'll have to leave everyone and everything you ever knew. You may be humiliated along the way. What if you are forsaken? What if you get to the top and He's not there? 


Self, you are right; I haven't the strength to climb this mountain, but the Lord is my strength and I shall be helped (Ps. 28:7) I shall not be left for He has promised me that He shall never leave me nor forsake me (Deut 31:8). Though I am leaving all behind, I know He is my portion (Lam. 3:24). Though, I am laid low what is that to the infinite glory I shall have when I am with Him on the mountaintop? What pleasure is there here that would keep me from the One whom my heart loves most? No, I shall not worry about my self-preservation. I shall care only about the glory of my Lord.

But...

NO, I shall not listen to you any longer; you care not for my good but only for yourself. I know that where my treasure is, there my heart shall be also (Matt 6:21). My heart is on that mountain, and I shall reach the top!