After some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Come, let us return to every city where we proclaimed the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.” Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark. But Paul decided not to take one who had deserted them and had not accompanied them in the work. The disagreement became so sharp that they parted company; Barnabas took Mark with him and Paul chose Silas. Acts 15:36-40

I smiled as I read Acts 15: 36-16:5 the second reading of today’s Daily Office.  Sharp seems like an understatement. If these 2 who had worked so well before, were now willing to part company because of who is on the team, the argument sounded more like a verbal fight, leaving each person with bruised36-40 egos.   

Paul was a great leader. We do not doubt that Paul was inspired by God.  Could it be that Paul held a grudge? It seems to me he was not willing to risk Mark doing the same thing on this second trip and so he refused to take him.  Paul was not willing to nurture the young Mark in patience and stick-to-itiveness. He wanted a more mature ready-to-go worker. Sometimes we have to ‘make’ persons into who we want them to be as fellow workers. We have to nurture and encourage them.

Yet Paul, years later, calls him a “fellow worker” (Philemon 1:24). Not only that when Paul was in his last days in  prison in Rome  he sends for Mark.  “Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).  John Mark had matured to become a faithful servant of the Lord and Paul was willing to acknowledge that he was valuable to the ministry. 

How often do we behave like Paul? Not willing to give a second chance? We rationalize our decision.  Paul I believe had decided that Mark did not have the makeup necessary for planting new congregations. Missionary work requires dedication, resolve, patience  and stick-to-itiveness. Like Mark many of us do not have enough of the 4 characteristics. Like Paul we want success in what we do, we are not willing to take a chance with persons in whom we have lost confidence. 

Maybe our attitude should be like Barnabas. We should choose to encourage the person who lacks confidence, or patience or some other skill which they need to be their best self.  He chose to give Mark a second chance, to build him up. Mark’s contribution was so great it could not go unnoticed by Paul. 

Sometimes the person who needs building is ourselves.  Each of us should consider what we need to do to be our best selves, what we need to do God’s work and work on achieving this better person.  It isn’t something that is easy to do by ourselves.  We need an accountability partner.  Barnabas was Mark’s accountability partner and Mark turned out just fine.  He wrote the first gospel. Using Paul’s own words, he was “helpful to him in ministry”.  Each of us is called to the mission field. It is a mission field where, who we portray in what we think do and say is the most important factors in bringing persons to Christ.  As the saying attributed to Francis of Assisi says “proclaim the gospel and if necessary use words.   

Let us seek to be more like Barnabas in situations where we are disappointed but choose to be nurturing.  Let us also be like Paul acknowledging and commending the achievement of others.  May God give us grace to choose which to do at the appropriate time, as the strength of God pilots us. The power of God preserves us. the wisdom of God instructs us. The hand of God protects us. the way of God directs us. The shield of God defend us. May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil and the temptations of the world.  Where God is all is well all will be well all manner of things will be well.