Acts 13:13

Paul and Barnabas at Antioch in Pisidia

Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem,

Acts 15:37

Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark.

Acts 15:38

But Paul thought best not to take with them one who had withdrawn from them in Pamphylia and had not gone with them to the work.

Acts 15:39

And there arose a sharp disagreement, so that they separated from each other. Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus,

Searching the scriptures did not reveal any reason why John Mark left Paul and Barnabas and returned to Jerusalem. Speculation will only expose those things we might consider ourselves if we were in John Mark’s place. It says more about ourselves than John Mark.

Assumptions can be made about Paul’s thoughts also. Once again we place ourselves in a position to reason things as if we were Paul. The same can be said of Barnabas and his desire to take John Mark with him. Note that Colossians 4:10 identifies John Mark and Barnabas as cousins. A familia connection might have been enough to create a difference in opinion. Maybe, and that too is a supposition. 

So let us do just exactly that, let us look within ourselves and ask ourselves what it is that keeps us from serving with others within the ministry. The list may be longer than this list..

I am not called.

I am not worthy.

I am not talented.

I am not trained.

I am not wanted.

I am not needed.

I am not included.

Add your own thoughts.

Now ask yourselves what can be done in your own circumstances to remove the word not so that you too can be of service to God?

Deuteronomy 14:26 and spend the money for whatever you desire—oxen or sheep or wine or strong drink, whatever your appetite craves. And you shall eat there before the Lord your God and rejoice, you and your household.

The bible says I can have whatever I want, so whatever I want is not bad for me.

This is the lie that occurs when we seek to hear what we want to hear by giving into our own appetites. The Word taken out of context should not be used to justify our actions. Allow me for a moment to review some context that is often overlooked when we seek to justify our choices.

Deuteronomy 14:23 And before the Lord your God, in the place that he will choose, to make his name dwell there, you shall eat the tithe of your grain, of your wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and flock, that you may learn to fear the Lord your God always.

Are we dwelling in the place of His choosing or have we chosen a place according to our own pleasure? Has He made His name known in this place in which we dwell? Have we eaten a tithe of our labors or have we consumed it all? Have we learned to fear the Lord our God and if so have we gotten so complacent as to forget fearing Him?

We look around in the world and we will see a world driven by appetites that are out of control. Appetites are not limited to the digestive process. It is the easiest to recognize, obesity abounds in our society and some of us suffer from it while others look upon it as shameful while ignoring their own gluttonous appetites for wealth, power, fame, and influence, just to name a few.

Not all appetites are carnal by nature, that does not make them any less dangerous.

Malachi 3:15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

And then He said: The Book of Remembrance

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

What do we want to be remembered for; gluttony or control?