How To Serve Others
by Dan Jones, M.D.
Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Those of you with the spiritual gift of service understand Martha's frustration. In my most honest moments, I can see why Martha would be upset with Mary, and wonder if she was frustrated with the response of Jesus to her frustration. After all, there were important things to do, and Mary seemed oblivious to the work and her obvious responsibility to help with preparations for the visit of Jesus.
Most of us who are "called to service" through the health professions are doers, more comfortable with “doing” than “being”. We are most comfortable expressing ourselves spiritually through acts of service to others. We appreciate people like Martha who see something that needs to be done and goes about doing it. We often have little patience for others who don't share our ability to see the work and get it done. We "doers" often have little patience for those who are more comfortable "being".
Early in my medical school years, my wife and I spent a summer working in an inner-city church. We lived in the church building with twelve college students from around the country. Within the first few days, I had decided which of the students would be useful in our ministry and which would be "extra baggage". Of course, I thought those exhibiting the gift of service would be useful and those with other gifts focusing on praise, prayer, and encouragement would be of little use in a summer of work I already had mapped out well in my mind (and on paper, of course, since the need to do obsessive-compulsive planning often accompanies the gift of service).
By the end of week two, all my preconceived plans were thrown out as they were all useless in this new inner-city environment where I had no experience. By the end of the summer, I had come to greatly appreciate those in our group who were more comfortable "being". As we dealt with our failures and frustrations, they were able to help all of us in the group focus on Jesus and His presence. That summer, I learned I had a strong need to spend more time with Jesus to prepare myself for His service and to understand how He would direct that gift of service.
Jesus tried to help Martha see this lesson. In the little time Jesus was with them, He wanted the sisters to concentrate on being with Him, rather than doing for Him. This is a painful lesson for those of us more comfortable with a life of service - doing. As you contemplate how you will use God's gifts to you in serving others today, take a moment to "be with Jesus" as Mary did, so that He can use your service through His direction, and not your own.
Lord, we love you and appreciate you for Who You Are. Thank you for allowing me to sit at your feet a few moments before I attempt to serve others in your name.
Dan Jones, M.D., MACP, FAHA, a board-certified Internist, a former medical missionary to Korea, professor of medicine at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Dean of the School of Medicine, and Chancellor of the University of Mississippi until 2015. Dr. Dan Jones is a member of CMDA.
Dr. Jones welcomes any comments or questions about what he has written and can be reached at - djones@umc.edu
Rounds with the Master, Spiritual Pearls from the Great Physician Devotionals are released every Monday and Thursday.
Photo by Adib Harith Fadzilah on Unsplash
