Before Assisting Others

Once in 4th grade, my teacher handed out a paper and said to read the instruction at the top before answering the questions. When I received my paper, I read a few questions and they seemed super easy, so I jumped right in. I knew if I could finish this test quickly, I would get more recess, so I answered the questions as fast as I could. I was flying through. Thought I was way ahead of everyone else. But then, a few kids were giggling a little as they walked up and handed the test to the teacher. The teacher smiled at them and said, “Well done.” I was confused as I still had a bunch more questions to do.
 
When I and the rest of the class finally finished, our teacher told us to read the instruction at the top of the paper. We read and were pierced with great regret. The instruction read, “Thank you for reading the instructions first. You don’t have to answer any of the questions on this paper. Just write your name on the bottom and hand it to the teacher.”
 
I have always had trouble following directions. When I see a barricade corralling people at Disneyland, everything in me wants to find out what it's keeping us from. If I push the boundary a little, maybe I can create an awesome shortcut for me and my crew. There is a song in Les Misérables which says, “Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see.” And I answer, “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Testing the boundaries is one of my favorite things in life.
 
There is one instruction which many will be very familiar with: the instruction given at the beginning of a commercial airplane flight. “In case of a cabin pressure emergency, put on your own mask first before assisting others.” When I first heard this, my brain did the same thing it always does: challenged it. I thought, that seems selfish and horrible. Everyone should put their child’s mask on first. Serve others before yourself. That’s the right thing to do. 
 
I have never been in a situation where the cabin pressure has caused masks have to come down. I have, however, been in seasons of life where pressure has changed dramatically. In fact, right now the pressure is feeling pretty intense with forecasted intensity ahead. So, I look to see what Jesus did when the pressure on Him increased, and it is fascinating.
 
Jesus had more pressure on Him than anyone else, ever. The book of the Bible called Hebrews tells us Jesus was tested in every way possible. Every test a human has gone through Jesus went through as well. That’s a lot of tests.
 
And yet, Jesus never sinned. He passed every test. He handled the pressure perfectly every time. Even when the test was his being crucified unjustly as a criminal. 
 
Jesus’ life is the most influential and inspirational life ever lived in all of history. What was His secret to handling the pressure?
 
He put on His own mask before assisting others. He “often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Jesus was known for a lot of things, but the ones who wrote Bible books about Him made sure their readers knew Jesus took lots of time to be filled by His father. Jesus, who had the biggest job of any person ever—saving the world—took time to rest. Jesus was not selfish in any way,ever. Jesus was not in a hurry. In fact, though He had such a big job, He didn’t even really get started until He was thirty. (If you’re under thirty and reading this, it’s all good if you haven’t figured it all out yet) 
 
Thankfully, in all my years with my weird brain, I haven’t had trouble trusting Jesus’ instructions are worth following. Jesus exemplifies the concept of putting on your own mask first before assisting others. He also extended an invitation to all who are feeling the pressure. He said, “come to Me and I will give you rest.” He will give us the oxygen we need to assist others. He will not give us oxygen simply to serve ourselves. Jesus really does want us to give ourselves away, but He doesn’t want us to do it from a place of lack or exhaustion or worse. He wants us to do it from a place of overflow and strength because of our deep and daily connection with His infinite love and eternal life.
 
Today, if you hear His voice calling you, stop what you are doing, get to a lonely place, and breathe in His breath of love and life and grace and wisdom.
 
Happy Easter weekend,
 
David
 
P.S. Today if you can get free from 12-1pm please join us for a meaningful and peaceful Good Friday service at Living Streams Church.