Contemplative Bible Reading

2 Timothy 4:11 (New Living Translation)

11 Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.

This is at the end of Paul’s second letter to Timothy. This is the usual, “I’m done writing the meaningful stuff and here are a few afterthoughts for you.”

I confess to glossing over these things. For some reason, this statement stuck with me. Paul asks that Timothy bring Mark with him when he visits. It seems the Mark would be helpful in the service Paul was performing. Nothing specific like, “Mark is good a summarizing my sermons,” or, “Mark is a great cook and we are really hungry at the end of the day.” Nope. Simply, “Mark will be helpful to me in my ministry.”

Sometimes, that is all that is needed. Someone who will be helpful. Sometimes that is essential—someone who will be helpful.

Not a great speaker or writer or healer or butcher, baker, or candlestick maker? Simply helpful. Simply helpful is often the necessary role. Let’s not push it down the ladder and belittle it. Let’s try to be simply helpful. Paul needed it. Others still do.