(Luke 10:41,42 MSG) The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it — it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.”
This morning we continue our new series entitled, “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” For the rest of the week we will look at the story of Lazarus’ resurrection, from the perspective of his two sisters. We are learning to never give up and in this situation the sisters did. When Lazarus stopped breathing they stopped believing. But thank God that His plan was bigger than their capacity to believe!
In Luke chapter 10 Jesus is teaching, mentoring, sending out people to minister, and continuing to travel with His disciples. The Bible tells us that their travels took them into “a village.” We learn later that it was Bethany. It was there that a woman named Martha welcomed Jesus into her house and made Him feel quite at home. Martha had a sister named Mary. Mary had obviously heard of Jesus and the power that flowed from His lips so she sat at His feet and listened attentively, hanging on every word He said. But Martha was nowhere in sight. She was busy in the kitchen getting things prepared for her houseguests. So there they were: one sister was sitting in a position of worship and the other sister was standing in a position of work. Although both work and worship are necessary, we must be able to discern the proper timing of each. I often tell my children, “The right thing at the wrong time becomes the wrong thing.” What Martha was doing would be the right thing if Jesus had not been in teaching mode. While Jesus was pouring out she was missing out. She was so busy working that she missed her opportunity to worship and to receive from Jesus directly. She had Jesus in her house, but she was not with Him. She was so busy doing something FOR Him that she failed to receive FROM Him! And if we are not careful we can make the same mistake today. Our schedules are so busy that we have to schedule in church, Bible study, prayer, and etc. Even doing good things FOR God can become distracters from receiving FROM Him.
The longer this went on the more frustrated Martha became. Finally, she could not take it any more. Martha stepped in, interrupted Jesus, and asked, “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” Wow! Can you hear the frustration in her words? She was so frustrated that she literally interrupted Jesus, while He was in teaching mode, to ask Him to tell her sister to get in the kitchen where she could do some work. She was upset that Mary chose to worship while she was busy working. So what do you think Jesus said? Do you think He said, “Mary, your sister is right. You better leave my feet so you can go get those plates ready”? Of course not. Jesus said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it.” Mary had chosen the essential thing. The King James Version calls it, “The needful thing!” We will stop here for today.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Work and worship are both necessary, but you must discern the proper timing for each.
2. A life of constant work without a proper diet of worship will strip you of your joy and peace, leaving you with nothing but frustration and aggravation.
3. Don’t invite Jesus into your house and then neglect what He is saying.
4. Never get so busy doing something FOR God that you fail to hear FROM Him!
5. Worship is the “Needful thing” because it puts you in a position to hear from God and it helps you to maintain your faith and patience, and joy and peace.
Closing Confession: Father, I am a worker, but I am also a worshipper. I don’t neglect worship for work, nor work for worship. I know that both are necessary and I am able to discern the proper timing for each. I am diligent in my work, but I also know that proper worship will help me to work more effectively. I worship You daily. I worship You, I hear from You, I am led of You, I walk with You, and I have joy and peace while I operate in faith and patience! Balancing work and worship help me to be able to hold on, no matter how long it takes. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
