07/04/2022 - THE SCRIBE’S DECISION

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Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.” Mathews 8:19

In Biblical days, the Scriptures were hand-copied by scribes, letter by letter. Many considered themselves important for knowing how to write God’s Word that way, but that did not mean that they could minister what they rewrote. In fact, it is only the revelation that counts which is granted to the one who is called to the holy ministry (2 Corinthians 3:6). The minister must be prepared to be a servant to all and not think of himself as the important one (Mark 9:35)!

In His ministry, Christ gave countless lessons that made people dumbfounded with the anointing that rested on Him. In the same way, those sent by the Master must be in accordance with the will of God. Then, everyone will be amazed at the works performed by them. Our mission is to glorify the Lord Jesus as He honored the Father in Capernaum by healing the centurion’s servant right there in the synagogue; then, in Peter’s house, by healing this man´s mother-in-law; and finally, by delivering the demon-possessed and healing other sick people (Matthew 8:1-17). The Lord is kind to us!

A scribe present there watched fascinated at Christ’s way of ministering, so he soon offered to go with Him wherever He went. The Master showed him the real side of the Father’s work, making him see that those called to take the message to the world must be detached from material comforts, for He Himself had nowhere to lay His head (v. 20). We can believe that this is true, because the Lord is the Truth and knows how to provide for the needs of His servants.

It is not right to “train” workers with the mentality of living like children of the rich, but to announce the Truth to everyone. If we are sent to poor countries, where many don’t even have enough to eat, we will have to live like them. This does not take away the merit of the blessing that enriches, because the apostle Paul said: as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things (2 Corinthians 6:10).

Soldiers from First World nations are taught to live in jungles like those from peripheral countries. There they hunt for food and walk among mosquitoes, mosquitoes that transmit dengue fever and other tropical diseases, as well as dangerous wild animals. Should war come, there will not be the abundance of bread that exists today. The soldiers of the cross must be prepared to endure situations of extreme necessity. This is how the Messiah lived, setting an example for us.

Jesus did not deny the scribe’s request, but showed the reality of life on Earth. Watching movies that show Hollywood´s luxury, we get the impression that there are no problems in America, which is unfounded. In prosperous South Korea, I preached to homeless people, people living off the handouts that other citizens drop into their tin cans. So, we can’t fool ourselves.

We have the responsibility to equip those whom God calls to be part of the ministry, and the best thing to do for them is to show, through our behavior, how to live: in a holy way, without waste and with dignity. Good servants look like the good master, who teaches them to love all people. This pleases God so much!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares