Purpose

Joy of the Master

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Most little kids like to show off. Whether it’s a new toy that they’ve acquired, a new talent that they’ve mastered, or a new skills that they’ve practiced and finally retained, they are eager to display their accomplishments to those that will watch them. In a lot of families, there is no greater audience than their parents. This is because not only do children receive applause and accolades after they are done with their performance, but because they are aware of a simple fact – when they do well, their parents are filled with joy. In other words, mom and dad’s joy is not just in watching the thrill that their child is experiencing, but they have joy in knowing that their child is growing and maturing, able to take on new tasks and difficulties. It’s not just joy experienced by proxy, but they actually have their own joy in the display of their child’s development.

In a similar way, Scripture teaches us that we can bring our Heavenly Father joy when we use the talents, resources, and gifts that He has given us in order to accomplish things for the purpose of His Kingdom. One passage that illustrates this point clearly, is the Parable of the Talents. After each servant is given responsibility for a particular amount of money, only those who used it to gain a greater investment are commended by their Master. The parallel lesson for servants of Christ is that He expects us to use what He has given us to reap eternal rewards. Our gifts, resources, and talents are not given to us simply for our own pleasure or sense of well-being; He expects us to use them in ways that will garnish a return in Eternity.

While it is amazing in and of itself that God gives us the privilege of being a part of the work that He is doing, what is even more captivating is that Scripture says that when we do so we are invited to “enter in the joy of your Master” (Mt. 25:21, 23). Much like a child experiences their parent’s joy when they display their new accomplishments, we can experience our Father’s joy as we use what He has given us to bring Him glory. We can partake of His joy, and participate in it, as He commends us for being “good and faithful servants.” We are not just witnesses of His pleasure, we are recipients of it.

For a young child, wholly dependent upon their parents, there may be nothing more motivating than seeing the pleasure that their growth and development brings to the ones who love them most. As believers, the love of the One who cared so much that He sent His only Son to be crucified on our behalf should prompt the same thing. Not only does He experience joy when we use the talents that He has given us for the purposes of Kingdom, but He invites us to enter into this joy, to celebrate with Him the work that He is accomplishing through us. And experiencing this joy should be our joy as well.

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Purpose

The Measure of Significance

“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 14:6-9

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It’s a familiar Bible story – one that is told in Sunday School and beyond. A woman comes to where Jesus is staying, breaks a jar of perfume in order to pour it all out on Jesus’ feet. She doesn’t save any for herself – in act of of selfless devotion, she gives it all. Immediately, the ridicule and questions begin. Other people have better ideas for how the expensive offering should have been spent; others have designs on what worship should look like. But Jesus silences her critics. He calls what she does “beautiful.” She gave unabashedly and without reserve – for Him.

Many of us may have wanted a stronger response from our Lord and Savior. He instead starts talking about His impending death and burial. We may be tempted to think the defense is insignificant in light of the reprimand she incurred, and the likely embarrassment that followed. But then He concludes with these words – “wherever the gospel is proclaimed int he whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

His response wasn’t insignificant; His defense wasn’t inadequate. He knew what no one else in the room did. Her act would be a representation of the kind of selfless devotion Christ expected from all of His followers. The defense wasn’t completed in that moment, instead it would resound in eternity as her act was encapsulated in Scripture and told and retold through the ages.

Similarly, we may be tempted to think that we aren’t getting our dues for the sacrifices that we make for our King. It may seem that the rewards and the praise don’t measure up to the hurdles that we face. The costs may seem to far outweigh the benefits. However, we should remember that the accolades that we receive here aren’t the end of the story. The justice we receive on this Earth isn’t the final arbitration. The true measure of significance is how the things we do echo in eternity.  It’s their eternal worth that determines their value; not the temporal evaluation.

So let us strive for eternal significance. Let us approach even the everyday activities as an opportunity to sacrifice “us” for the sake of our King.  May we give all – without reserve and without calculation. May He consider our acts, and call them “beautiful.” Regardless of whether they are acclaimed on this Earth, may they be worthy of commendation in the throne room of Heaven.

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