God's Use of Unusual Partings

The book of acts talks about three good men (among many others). One was the apostle, Paul. Another was Barnabas who encouraged the apostles to receive Paul after he was saved. The third was a young man, Barnabas' relative, John Mark, often just known as Mark.

Barnabas and Paul were set apart for the Gospel ministry. They started on a missionary journey, and they took Mark with them. We don't know why, but Mark decided not to finish the journey.

When they got ready to go another journey, Barnabas wanted to take Mark with them again. Paul did not. They could not agree. The Bible even says that contention was very strong among them. It was not over a doctinal issue. It was over a procedural issue.

They decided to go their separate ways. Barnabas and Mark went together, and Silas joined Paul. We do not read that anyone rebuked Barnabas, and we do read that the disciples commended Paul and Silas for their journey.

Should this have happened? I am convinced that only the Lord knows if they should have separated at that point.

In any case, the Gospel went out in two different directions at the same time.

They were all used of God.

At a recent business meeting, we had quite a low bank balance. This surprised me because three weeks earlier I had been told that we were doing well. Even two weeks earlier, we talked about the fact that we might be able to use some of the extra money for a special purpose. Then we helped someone with a pretty good sized need. By the time we got to business meeting, the balance was fairly low.

We began to have motions to cut things. They were done decently and in order. My concern was that we had divided votes where we usually have almost unaminous votes. Another concern was that people who had things they really cared about cut might start looking over what we do with a fine-tooth comb and start suggesting that we cut other things out of spite.

We have to be careful of attitude at this poing. Some might be tempted to say, "Well, we don't have enough money to do the radio broadcast or buy donuts or contribute to outside causes . . . ." And then they could use that to prohibit us doing something new that we should do. They might be tempted to think, "Let's start picking apart what we will spend for special services and so forth."

We do need to be aware of where we are financially, but let's see if it is only temporary or whether it is long-term.

Let's pray that the Lord will bless us all with abundance to where we will be having to figure out where to use all the money being given to the church.

What are some spiritual applications of the above Scriptures? If you've had a contention with someone in the past, look for reconciliation if possible.

The simple fact of the matter is that we have all contended with God at some point in our lives. If we are in contention with Him right now, may we come back to Him.

One of the churches pulled out of our Quarterly Meeting yesterday. We were able to bid them Godspeed, and we shook hands with them before they left. I disagree with their reasons for pulling out, but I do want to say that they are all good people and that I have highly respected them in the past, and that I do highly respect them now; although I respectfully disagree with them.

Unusual partings can be used of the Lord to cause the Gospel to go in different directions or to be spread in different ways.

What happened to John Mark? He was later approved by Paul. See Colossians 4:10 and II Timothy 4:11. He was a companion of Peter (I Peter 5:13). Paul asked for him to come to him, later in Paul's life because Mark was useful to him in ministry.

Probably John Mark's greatest accomplishment, though, was that he wrote the second book of the New Testament.

God can use some contention in unusual ways if we are called according to His purpose and if we love God. (Roman 8:28)