Take this Job and . . Love It!
Mark 14:3-9
powerpoint template at: http://www.gbcdecatur.org/sermons/TakeThisJob.html
Introduction
Is the work you are doing good work? Do you love your work? I have talked to people who say “pastor I love my job.” I have also heard people say “I hate my job.”
Purpose has a lot to do with your attitude concerning your job. In our text the Lord said Mary is doing a good work (or deed). [This is Mary of Bethany, younger sister to Martha and Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead.]
Do you believe you are doing a good work? I want to apply this text to spiritual as well as secular jobs. Take this Job and...Love It!
1. With Respect for the Sacrifice of it. v. 3, 5
1. A Denarii [pence] equals a days wages, she gave 300 days of labor.
2. She broke the vial, and poured it all on Jesus…this may have been part of the ointment used for the burial of Lazarus!
First of all, we ought to work. The Bible says if we don’t work we shouldn’t eat. I’m glad our nation has a plan to help those who cannot work, but I wish it wasn’t so badly abused by so many able-bodied people!
“God gives the birds their food, but He doesn’t throw it into their nests.”
On the other hand, it’s your time and effort we’re talking about here, a sacrifice…and it ought to be about more than just making a living! Give of your best to the Master...don’t be a workaholic at it…love the Lord your God w/ all your strength by focusing on him, your family, and your ministry, the local church, and let the job just be a source of means perhaps…though there’s a way to make it more than mundane! No one on their deathbed wishes they worked more or accomplished more for the company, or had a bigger home or more things…but that they did more for the Master! [but these days He seems to get our leftovers and tired bodies after “late nite Saturday!”]
2 Cor. 8:5
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
2. With Respect for the Sarcasm of it. v. 4-5
The sign in the store window read: NO HELP WANTED. As two men passed by, one said to the other, "You should apply--you’d be great."
Life is full of critics, and so is your workplace, and so is the church! You must do your work, and do what’s right, many times in spite of the “bucket brigade” that tries to throw cold water on everything!
This same kind of thing happened w/ this year’s inauguration as the bucket brigade said, “just stand on the steps and raise your right hand, then send the money to Tsunami victims.”
[Note the comment is by Judas in the parallel passage of John 12:4-6…]
John 12:4-6
Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him, [5] Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? [6] This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
Illustration 5 brooms
There was a man in a particular church, who opened a broom closet and found five brand new brooms. He hit the ceiling. He went to the one in charge of buying commodities for the church. And he said, "Whoever authorized the buying of five brand new brooms at one time? We’re not even meeting our budget!
That’s a waste of money!" And he was very angry. The custodian couldn’t satisfy him, and finally, the man was in to the pastor’s office to see the pastor. The pastor tried to pacify him. And the pastor said, "Well, I don’t know. Maybe we use a lot of brooms! Maybe there was a sale on brooms. But don’t fall out of fellowship over it." But the man never was satisfied, and he left the pastor’s office in a huff!
After awhile, the pastor was having coffee with the church treasurer, and the pastor told the church treasurer about this. The church treasurer just smiled. "Ah," he said, "Pastor, I can understand why he was so upset." “Well”, the pastor said, “Would you please explain it to me?" And the treasurer said to the pastor, "Well, how would you feel if you saw everything you had given to the church in the past year tied up in five brooms?"
We’ve had the same thing right here in the past: I heard of someone being critical of how we do missions, and saying they will not be a part of it anymore…come to find out they had never once given to missions!
Learn to dismiss the “naysayers” and unfounded criticism.
Illustration
I like the story of the young man whose habit of criticizing backfired on him.
One evening, while waiting for a bus, he was standing with a crowd of people looking in the window of a taxidermist shop. In the center of the window was a large owl that attracted the attention of all who passed by.
The self-appointed expert began to criticize the job done on it. "If I couldn’t do better than that," he said pompously, "I’d find another business. Just look at it. The head is out of proportion, the pose of the body is unnatural, and the feet are pointed in the wrong direction." Just then the owl turned his head and gave the fellow a broad wink. The crowd laughed as the critic ran away.
3. With Respect for the Significance of it. v. 6-8a
The significance of your work is determined by God. He’s the One we want to please, [not menpleasers].
Col. 3:23
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
A retired man became interested in the construction of an addition to a shopping mall. Observing the activity regularly, he was especially impressed by the conscientious operator of a large piece of equipment. The day finally came when he had a chance to tell this man how much he’d enjoyed watching his scrupulous work.. Looking astonished, the operator replied, "You’re not the supervisor?"
Romans 12:11
Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;
There are three kinds of workers. For example, when a piano is to be moved, the first kind gets behind and pushes, the second pulls and guides, and the third grabs the piano stool.
1 Cor. 10:31
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
Do your best and trust God with the rest!
Illustration Children were bringing to Sunday School class show and tell items. One boy brought some water, and that illustrated, "I’m the Water of Life." The other brought some flowers, and that illustrated, "Jesus was the Rose of Sharon." And somebody else brought some bread, and "Jesus is the Bread of Life." A little boy brought a banty egg. (I know you know what a banty hen is?) He brought one of those little eggs, and the teacher said, "What does that represent?" The little fellow said, "She hath done what she could."
Illustration
My autistic son Aaron from time to time comes out w/ some clear words for us, though simple, we are overjoyed. He may be behind his siblings in some of those kinds of ways, but he is showing what he CAN do, and that’s all a parent looks at. [plus, he can do some things none of the rest of us can!]
v. 9—there’s eternal significance!
4. With Respect for the Spirituality of it. v. 8b
Mary of Bethany was closer to Jesus than most of those called disciples…
Luke 10:38-42
Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. [39] And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. [40] But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. [41] And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: [42] But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
John 11:32
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
Here Mary of Bethany is doing something very imp’t…more than giving to the poor. She was showing the Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection! It was a memorial of the body of Christ before the Last Supper occurred and that memorial of the Lord’s Supper was instituted!
We should never underestimate the possibilities within our vocation…including eternal possibilities. How can you affect eternity in your workplace? Be a witness? Pray? Counsel w/ people on their needs? What open doors of opportunity does your career afford you? And do you have a ministry in the church…your other job…in which you can also focus on the eternal?
Eph. 4:1
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called…
Make sure you’re in the right place, then dig in for the long haul and don’t jump until God moves you.
One airline passenger told his companion shortly after take-off, "Time sure changes things. See that lake down there? When I was a boy, I used to go out on it in a rowboat & fish. Every time a plane flew over I’d wish I was in it. Now I am in the plane & I wish I was fishing."
Mark Twain, “The only person who wants change is a wet baby.”
You may not always fit in, but it’s God we’re trying to please.
Illustration
A real Christian is an odd number, anyway.
They feel supreme love for One whom they have not seen;
They talk familiarly every day to Someone they cannot see;
They expect to go to heaven on the virtue of Another;
Empties themselves in order to be full;
Admits they are wrong so he can be declared right;
Humbles them self in order to be exalted
Strongest when he is weakest;
Richest when he is poorest
Happiest when he feels the worst.
He dies so he can live; forsakes in order to have;
Gives away so he can keep;
Sees the invisible, Hears the inaudible,
Knows that which passeth knowledge. A. W. Tozer
