Mark 9:41-42 – Serve even when it’s not glamorous

Bear in mind what John brought up earlier. They were looking at the success of a man in his ministry, using the name of Christ. It is clear that the disciples were focused on that success and jealousy arose, so they tried to restraint that man from serving. So in verse 41, the Lord wanted them to see that ministry is not just about the glamorous thing one does, such as casting out demons and even accomplishing great miracles. It is also about providing little services to people who follow Christ. It is about giving ordinary services like providing a cup of drink unnoticed by the masses.

It is evident here that the Lord is encouraging us to seize every opportunity to cultivate and develop young believers in their faith in Him. Such acts will not go unnoticed by God. He will reward such services that we provide. So He said, “For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because of your name as followers of Christ, truly I say to you, he will not lose his reward.” 

While the Lord will reward the diligent, He will not hesitate to take the careless to task. So He warned in verse 42, "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believes to stumble ,it would be better for him if, with a heavy millstone hung around his neck, he had been cast into the sea."  He warned about becoming a stumbling block to younger believers through the careless and nonchalant way one carries out the ministry. This irresponsible attitude carries with it dire consequences. The words here bear a serious tone. We must not trifle with ministry. We should approach every one we minister to with due diligence for each person matters to the Lord.  

What’s the point? We need to serve even when what we are doing seems unglamorous. We need to live a congruous life even when how we live seems unrewarding. Every one of us, believers in Christ, must walk our talk in how we live and act. For we are serving our Lord! There are people watching us all the time. What we do in the name of Christ has the potential to help them to walk further and deeper in Him or drive them further and away from Him. We may not be conscious that people, as well as God, are watching us all the time. Nothing escapes the eyes of God. Be reminded by Hebrews 4:13. It says, “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."