Rasmani and Mathur were eager to engage Sri Ramakrishna for the temple service, but when the offer was made to him through his brother Ramkumar, the Master declined, saying, “I will not serve anyone but God.”
Ramkumar was more than thirty years older than Sri Ramakrishna, and gradually it became difficult for him to manage the worship of the Divine Mother alone. This provided Mathur with an excuse to ask the Master to help his brother. One day Sri Ramakrishna and Hriday were walking in the temple garden. Seeing them from a distance, Mathur sent a messenger to Sri Ramakrishna with a request that he come and see Mathur. Knowing what was in Mathur’s mind, the Master told Hriday, “As soon as I go there, he will ask me to remain here and take service.” Hriday asked: “What is the harm in that? It can only be good to be appointed to work under a great man in such a holy place. Why are you reluctant?” The Master replied: “I have no intention of being tied down to service all my life. Besides, if I agree to perform the worship here, I will have to be responsible for the ornaments on the goddess. That is a difficult task, and it will not be possible for me. But if you stayed here and took that responsibility, then I would have no objection to performing the worship.” Hriday had originally come to Dakshineswar seeking a job, so he gladly agreed. (Source: They Lived with God)