Mark is Teaching Me a Lesson

As I was preparing this morning for another day of transition to life in West Africa, I studied Mark 6. Beginning in verse 30, I read about Jesus feeding the 5,000, then later in verse 53 when Jesus and the disciples landed in Gennesaret, I noticed how the people chased after Jesus. What was their motivation? Was it to learn from and experience Jesus or was it to selfishly obtain blessings from him (food, healing, etc)?

I read these passages several more times and continued to dwell on this question,  Sadly, from my reading, it appears that many of them pursued Jesus thinking only of themselves.  In a way, I cannot blame them.  I'm sure some of them were dealing with chronic hunger.  Others were living lives of physical pain and sickness.  Jesus offered them a solution to the problems of this time in their lives.  Many others, however, saw a free meal or an easy fix for their naturally aging, deteriorating and self-abused bodies.

In a way, I see similarities in how the people where I am living typically view Western missionaries/tourists/business professionals. Most are not starving or lame.  Yet they unabashedly ask for handouts (even when their brother beside them is quietly suffering).  My temptation is to become jaded against their (seemingly) selfish pursuits. However, in the examples from Mark 6, Jesus never scolded these people for pursuing his blessing. Instead, he generously provided food for the thousands who gathered around him and he willingly healed all who touched him. This has great implications for how I act and react toward the people around me.

• When do I teach people to fish and when do I simply give fish? 

• How do I best reconcile the western view of money and possessions with with the African view?
  

• How do I intentionally avoid falling into the Messiah delusion and begin thinking that I am superior to them?

• How do I sort though people who truly need immediate help and those trying to take advantage of my dedication to following Christ's teachings?

• How do I continue loving those trying to trick and mislead me?

Your thoughts?