Overlooking the Obvious?

Just a quick thought on Mark 5:1-20.  This is where Jesus saves the man from the Legion of demons, sends them into a herd of pigs only for them to rumble off of a cliff.  My thought is not about the demons or the pigs.  My thoughts turned to the way Jesus dealt with the man afterwards.  

We can clearly see that the man formerly possessed by demons is now restored, thankful, and desires to go with Jesus and the disciples as they minister.  However, we see an interesting response from Jesus in that He tells the man He can not go but should stay and spread the news in his home and to his friends.  I see a lot of me in this man's desire and am aware even now of why Jesus responded the way He did and has done and will continue to.

I think so often we overlook the immediate area of need where the Gospel can be ministered. While the man's desire was not selfish or wrong, he could have in many ways been overlooking a ministry that was right in front of him.  I wonder how many times I have done that.  

We all desire to be used by God for His glory if we are truly His, but at times we may confuse that use with categories.  For example, we may think in order to be truly used by God in a mighty way we must be a preacher, or a small group leader, or an overseas missionary in the jungle.  When in reality God can and wants to use us in our families, with our friends, neighbors, people in our community.  Don't misunderstand me, I believe there is great blessing in being a preacher, small group leader, or missionary but what I am saying is to consider the immediate need.  

Who needs Christ that you will see today?  Who needs Christ that you can travel across the street and be in a mission field?  Who within your family is lost and needs to hear the Gospel?

Its not that Jesus did not want the man to go with them because He loved that man, He saved that man's soul.  Jesus knew that there was an immediate need that man could be used for there.  

I wonder sometimes if we overlook the obvious.