For whom do you carry the stone?

I recently heard an African legend that Elisabeth Elliot records in one of her books. "Jesus was walking one day with His disciples and asked each one to pick up a stone to carry for Him. They all picked up a stone. Peter, rather a small one; John, a bigger one. Jesus led them to the top of a mountain and then He commanded the stones to be made bread. The disciples were by this time hungry, and so they were given permission to eat the bread in their hands. Of course, Peter didn’t have very much. John shared with him some of the bread that had been made from the stone he had carried. On another occasion, the same Jesus took the same disciples for a walk and again asked them to pick up a stone to carry for Him. This time you can imagine that Peter picked up a bigger stone. But Jesus did not take them this time to the top of the mountain. He took them to the river. As they stood on the bank looking with questions in their minds to Him, He said, "Throw the stones into the river," which they did at once in obedience to His command. Then they looked at Him, expectantly waiting for the miracle that would happen this time. Nothing happened. They waited. They watched. Nothing happened. Jesus, with great compassion, looked on these disciples whom He loved and He said, "For whom did you carry the stone?" (http://www.ylcf.org/journal/p31/12/ee.htm)

Although a legend, it carries a powerful message that reminds us of the recorded words of Jesus in Mark 10:43-45 43 "Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

I think I'm like Peter in the African legend. I'm looking for the benefit, the pay off, how it affects me - I'm willing to do the hard work, but expect the results of my labour to have immediate pay out. I get upset if it doesn't. Yet, if we are to truly be models of Christ, we are to have a completely different mind set - We seek to serve, to be last, to do the job no one else thinks of or is willing to do: Reflect on the account of Jesus washing his disciples feet. As we fulfil our work this day, let us find ways of doing that work that 'serves' the other. Let us pick up the stone and be willing to carry it, not for the benefit, but because it advances the gospel of Christ in lives. If we can view our primary call to 'serve' I believe it will change our actions, behaviours and relationships and it will transform the lives of those we have been called to serve.

For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve... Let that penetrate the mind and the heart and our relationships with one another. Let change our motivations and expectations.

Anyway, I was just thinking.

Neil