Many jobs today require years of schooling to get you ready. You take class after class with anticipation of the day you will put it into practice. You finally finish school and secure the job you’ve dreamed of only to learn that all the schooling didn’t allow you to jump in and do the job. You enter the arena of your employer to find the person you will be shadowing for six weeks. This is a bit disturbing because you believe all the ideas you’ve had in mind are far better than what they have in place. Soon you realize you needed someone to show you the ropes. It is one thing for a teacher to tell you how it will be and how to solve problems, but the best teacher is watching someone do the job.
Jesus, as always, was the perfect example of this. He used everyday events to teach His followers about how to live for God. His disciples didn’t sit in a classroom, they had on-the-job training. When Jesus went to visit His friends Mary, Martha, and Lazarus in Bethany (Luke 10), He taught His hostess and followers much about the truly important things of life. Martha, probably the owner of the home, was busy getting things ready to feed and entertain Jesus and her other guest. Mary, her sister, was sitting at Jesus feet listening and taking in every word Jesus said. I’m sure this irritated Martha. She approaches Jesus, and in our words, tells Him to tell Mary to get up and help her. Jesus instructs Martha that Mary is doing the best thing. He sees the self-inflicted frustration and stress in Martha and reminds her that what she is doing will pass away, but what Mary is gaining will be with her always. This was on-the-job training of what we should be doing. I am more of a Martha. I want everything done the way I think it is supposed to be so that I can best serve my guests. However, the finest meal means nothing if it takes time away from spending time with Jesus. Do those around you know that Christ comes first? Do they understand your priorities by your actions?
Luke 10:41-42 “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Jesus teaches Martha and His followers another on-the-job lesson when Lazarus, Martha’s brother, dies. Mary and Martha send for Jesus, but He doesn’t come immediately. By the time He gets to their home Lazarus had been dead four days. Jesus had intentionally waited for Lazarus to die so that they could see the power and glory of God.
John 11:40 “Jesus saith unto her, Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?”
Another lesson we can learn from the teachings of Jesus is that he turned interruptions into spiritual opportunities. In Mark chapter 5, Jesus was summoned to the home of Jairus because His daughter was sick unto death. Jesus began to make His way to Jairus’ home when the woman, who had been sick for 12 years with an issue of blood, got close enough to touch the hem of His garment. Instead of pushing through the crowd to get to His mission, he stopped and asked who touched Him. He took the time to talk to the woman. She was filled with fear after He called her out, and she fell at His feet trembling. Jesus took time to let her know it was ok, and that her faith had made her whole.
Mark 5:32-34 “And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing. But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth. And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”
Jesus had daily interactions with His followers. However, this always followed His private time with the Father. If we are to effectively have a spiritual impact on others, we must first spend time with God. From that communion with God, should flow a desire to be intentional about spending time with others. God did not create us to be an island unto ourselves. We are to be involved and interacting with others. We need to see each opportunity, not as an interruption, but as God using us to make a difference. It has often been said that life lessons are mostly caught, rather than taught.
We are to have an impact on others by spending time with them and showing them through our example how to be a disciple of Christ. Sometimes it may seem that what you are doing does not make a difference to anyone. We may not see the impact until years later, or until we meet those people in Heaven. Either way, our job is to sow the seeds, to bring people along with us in our lives, so they too can learn how to have an impact on others. Jesus poured his life into a few men, who in turn preached the gospel that changed the world. Be intentional, be available, look at interruptions as opportunities, and spend your time on the “best” things. Reach out and be an on-the-job trainer!
