Motives and Methods

We like to think there is a right way and a wrong way.

John said to him, 'Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.' But Jesus said, 'Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward. - Mark 9:38-41

Today's Gospel reading seems to be in direct contrast to the one recently from Acts where an exorcist tries to use Jesus' name to cast out demons, only to find the demons don't recognize him and jump on him.

Here, Jesus tells his disciples that should not stop others form using Jesus' name, but should welcome it. 

Is there a right way and a wrong way to use Jesus' name in helping others?

Jesus says if they are not against us, they are for us, which gives us the answer.  The exorcist was out for his own reward, and so he lost it, but if we do something in Jesus' name for others with no desire to benefit from it, we gain our reward in God's Kingdom.

So there is a right way and a wrong way, but it has to do with us and our motive, not our method.

Think about it this way.  If you are struggling with a task and someone comes along offering to help you, you may offer when the task is done to pay that person for their help, but if when they come, they offer to help for a fee, you might refuse, saying you will do it yourself.

In both instances, the person could be paid, but because they sought payment first, you decided their motive was payment and not help.  And that was enough to turn you off.

Christ teaches us to seek to do things for others without the need for a reward, not because we may get a reward later, but because it is the right thing to do.

What comes later, then, is just a bonus.  The true reward is in helping.

More to come...