HE IS PROFITABLE TO ME -- Monday:
"Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry." (2 Timothy 4:11).
There are people who are especially beneficial – those through whom grace is ministered to the people of God. It is said of Barnabas, "When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord" (Acts 11:23). Paul said of Stephanas and Fortunatus, "they have refreshed my spirit" (1 Cor 16:18). The Corinthians had the ministry of refreshing Titus (2 Cor 7:13). Onesiphorus "oft refreshed" Paul (2 Tim 1:16). Philemon was noted for refreshing the saints (Phile 7). Who is able to measure what mighty works have been accomplished by the servants of God because they were refreshed by other brethren?
Too, many a noble work has come short of expectation because the worker was not restored to his desired vigor by the ministry of kindred spirits. Like Moses' hands grew weary in the battle with the Amalekites, so some spiritual battles are especially fatiguing to the servants of God. Yet, God provides people like Aaron and Hur who helped Moses. It is said of them, "they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun" (Ex 17:12). Their assistance turned the tide of the battle.
Paul writes to Timothy at a time when "only Luke" was with him. He wants Timothy to come to him, knowing he will be a source of great encouragement. But he does not want Timothy to come alone. He tells him to bring Mark with him. This is the young man who once traveled with Paul and Barnabas (Acts 12:25). At one time, this young man was not trustworthy. In fact, Paul and Barnabas split up because of that very thing. Mark had abandoned Paul and Barnabas in Pamphylia, not going with them to the work of the Lord. Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them to "every city where they had preached the Word of the Lord," to see how they were doing. Paul did not think it was wise, for he had left them in the midst of a work before. The result was Paul and Barnabas went their separate ways, serving the Lord. Paul chose Silas to travel with him, while Barnabas took Mark (Acts 15:36-40). That is the last time Barnabas and Mark are mentioned in the book of Acts.
But something happened to Mark. He became spiritually mature and trustworthy. Now, approximately seventeen years later, Paul says Mark "is profitable to me for the ministry." The NIV reads, "he is helpful to me in my ministry." Because of John Mark, Paul was more proficient in his indispensable ministry. He was helped, or assisted, in fulfilling the commission Jesus gave to him.
God has placed various ministries in the body of Christ. The highest ranking ministry belongs to the "Apostles," who were placed "first" in the church (1 Cor 12:28). They received the most extensive revelation, and were granted the privilege of laying the foundation for our faith (Eph 2:20; 3:5; Jude 17). Flesh might suppose such privileged men could not be advantaged by those receiving a lesser degree of revelation. But this is not the case. Mark was "helpful" to Paul in the fulfillment of his ministry.
Elsewhere the Spirit reminds us that the body of Christ is "tempered," or combined, together (1 Cor 12:24). There is an interdependency in the body of Christ that requires the support of the other members. Ephesians 4:16 states it this way. "From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love."
None of us, however gifted and insightful, can function effectively without the other members of Christ's body. Like Mark, they are profitable, or helpful, to us in our ministry. This is not accomplished by nice personalities and kind dispositions, although both are generally found in the saints. It is in the exercise of our various ministries that we become helpful to the other members of the body – assisting them to fulfill their ministry to the glory of God.
See what the grace of God can do! An Apostle in prison can gain help and profit from a man who once was a defector, yet grew up into Christ Jesus. There is no reason why you cannot do the same for your brethren, helping them to fulfill their ministry, and glorify God in the process. May it be said of you, "he/she is profitable unto me for the ministry."
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I seek for grace to be a helper and encourager to those who are laboring in the Word and the doctrine. Help me never to be a source of discouragement, concern, or irritation.