Don't Miss the Best because of the Good

What exactly should I be doing? What should I not be doing? There are so many things to be done, how do I know which ones God wants me to do? These are the kinds of questions that frequently buzz around in my head and maybe they do in yours too!

In the last few weeks I have had to think about some of these things especially clearly as I have been working with Bob on annual appraisals and job descriptions – yes the church has these too! There are so many good things happening here in Ashtead and we are fortunate enough to have so many opportunities to reach out– it can be tricky to know exactly which path to take.

Most of the things clamouring for attention are good things, it would be great to do them. But I was reminded of some advice I was given early on in my Christian life, not to be so busy with “The Good” as to miss The Best. There is a danger for us that we get so busy doing good things that we miss doing the best thing which is the one that God really wanted us to do. I find this particularly true as I wrestle with fitting the roles of good wife, good mother and good curate into one life! The truth is I cannot do it all. It is not possible and the sooner I recognise this, the better: the better for me, and the better for all around me!

In chapter 1 of Mark’s gospel, we find Jesus sneaking off very early in the morning to pray alone. He’d had a full-on day the day before: casting out an evil spirit in the synagogue, healing Peter’s mother in law, and after sundown, ministering to the whole town who flocked to him. His role as a healer extrordinaire seemed clear!

And yet after his time alone with his heavenly father, when Peter eventually finds him, things seem to have become clearer for him, for he declares: “Let us go somewhere else – to the nearby villages – so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”  In his time with God, Jesus realises that while healing was always going to be a part of his ministry, it was not going to be his core thing. It was good, very good, but for Jesus is was not the best. He was called to preach the good news of the kingdom, and of course later to die that the kingdom might come in. This was the best.

So if even Jesus needed to take time out to reassess his priorities and filter out some of the good for the best, it is not really surprising that you and I cannot do it all either. The key is to spend that time with God to discern the best from the good.