Day 49: Living For an Audience of One (SoS 1:6d)

 “Do not look upon me, because I am dark, Because the sun has tanned me. My mother’s sons were angry with me; They made me the keeper of the vineyards, But my own vineyard I have not kept.”

Song of Songs 1:6

In the previous lesson, we examined how the Kingdom of God is a vineyard of laborers. Each believer is entrusted with both vineyards to co-labor in and their own vineyard to steward for the Lord. We concluded that we must labor tirelessly in the company of other believers, giving service our all but not neglecting our personal assignments. 

Love for Jesus compels us to service. Not just service but sacrificial life-consuming service. Where we lay our every desire on the altar and pick His life goals. It's a beautiful and fulfilling life to live however we must guard against living a performance-inclined and not fellowship-inclined life.

Luke 10 narrates to us the story of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha welcomed Jesus into their home, we can say Mary got saved through her. The Bible said in verse 39 that Mary also sat at Jesus' feet indicating that Martha too at one point did the same, but Martha got distracted over time. She didn't start that way. She started like Mary, just sitting and fellowshipping with Jesus. But then she took her focus off Jesus and started giving her attention to the many things that were to be done. Mary on the other hand I believe was not blind to it, but esteemed Jesus and His presence above service.

She must have known Martha was displeased before Martha reported her to Jesus. But nothing, not even her perception of needs around her or Martha's displeasure would get her away from learning at His feet. Jesus' reply was startling, showing He had the same disposition as Mary. He said in Luke 10:41-42 (The Passion Translation):

“The Lord answered her, “Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” 

Service is a privilege we get to give Jesus, but it's a greater privilege that we can sit at his feet. We cannot esteem fellowship with Jesus if we have the respect of men. We will be performance oriented if we desire the praises of men, live in fear of their criticism, and elevate pleasing them above pleasing God.

So to keep our vineyards is to ignore all and focus on One. It is to be blind to man's expectations of us and our own perceived needs. It is to be deaf to the praises and criticisms of men, focused on Jesus and Jesus alone.

In John 12, this same Mary anointed Jesus' feet with very costly, fragrant perfume. When we look at this from the context of the culture in Jesus' time what she did is a far bigger deal than we make it. Women were not supposed to be so audacious and bold. They were not even expected to have their hair uncovered in public talk less of rubbing it on a man's feet.

Jesus said she did it in preparation for His burial. The understanding of Jesus' upcoming burial and what she can do to prepare Him for it came from spending time at His feet. The courage to do something unpopular that may offend religious leaders who she has looked up to all her life and people she interacts with daily came from fellowship. Her love for Jesus had grown far beyond her desire to please or find favor with men.

It was a service born out of fellowship and because it was born out of fellowship, that service itself was worship, it was fellowship. Service/Ministry should be an outflow of fellowship with God. When we don't live before an audience of One, we can't perform before an audience of One.

PRAY WITH ME:

Lord, I realize it's a privilege that you have called me to fellowship with you. In the ways I have taken this privilege for granted, I apologize. Help me to turn my eyes away from all that takes my attention from you. Help me to live focused on you alone, unaffected by the expectations, praises, and criticism of men. Amen.

REFLECT AND ACT:

• Is your service to God an outflow of worship or has it become a distraction from fellowship with Jesus?
• Do you think you spend enough time with Jesus? Think about ways you can spend more time with Him than before in prayer and the word.
• Is there anything you know you should do for the Lord or should not get involved in but you've let the fear of men and their criticism or a desire to please men influence your decision? Ask the Lord for the courage to do the right thing.