I was set up. When my oldest daughter Rachel was 9, she & my wife asked me to meet them at a hardware store. There Boomer was waiting for me in Rachel’s arms. Of course she said she would feed the dog; of course she said she would walk the dog everyday; of course she said she would pick up his poop. And I kept saying to myself, “You don’t know what you’re asking”.
“Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” “What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” “You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” –Mark 10:35-38
James and John approached Jesus asking that they be allowed to sit with Him in the highest positions of His coming kingdom. The right hand seat was reserved for the person who was second in rank, while the left hand seat was reserved for the person who was third in rank. These men saw themselves as the leaders among the disciples and they wanted their positions made permanent. But they never did grasp the idea that their leader, Jesus Christ, was headed to a cross. All they could see was the crown. They wanted the crown without the cross.
So often we want to jump right to a higher paying job title or a position of importance because we believe we deserve it despite not really understanding the make up of it;
- A 21-year old wanting to be treated like an adult yet not owning her own actions
- The person wanting to come in as co-owner of your business yet not willing to work hard enough to build his own book of business
- A teen wanting the sex but not the fatherhood
- A young executive wanting to lead the dept but can’t get to meetings on time
A calling is more attractive when looking at others. So often, I have no idea of the sacrifice and commitment needed to accomplish what I am asking. There is no substitute for hard work and I think it is a missing ingredient in today’s culture. Benefits often come with bruises, the glory with gore, the position with persecution, and the blessings with bumps.
Are you sitting in this space today? Be patient and let God lead. He knows when we are ready.
Reflection |
What area of your life is Jesus saying to you “Do you know what you’re asking?”