Daily devotion – Saturday 25th September 2021
You remember when Jesus came to dinner at Martha’s house? Martha had a sister by the name of Mary, who as Martha worked, Mary sat at Jesus feet to listen to Him teach.
Martha meanwhile was in the kitchen ‘cumbered about much serving’, in other words, – to be driven about mentally, to be distracted to be over-occupied, too busy.
When I run into people who I have not seen in fellowship for some time their first words are usually – “Been meaning to be in Church but just been so busy!”
Today’s world has “too busy” written over it but it’s going no-where.
We are more technically connected now via our smartphones, but we communicate less even though we are constantly on our phones.
We work longer hours and see less of our children.
Our kids have a myriad of things to attend from hobbies, sport and every-other available attraction – yet they are bored!
Let’s stop kidding ourselves – we will always do what we consider important.
In business, when budgets need to be cut, the first piece of the pie to be removed is training or professional development.
When life gets busy at home, the first piece of the pie to go, is fellowship with God – Church attendance!
On both occasions the quick dropping off is because the company, the family fails to see the importance of them – they are viewed as extra, not necessary, able to be lived without.
Martha was busy and upset, and she wanted Jesus to sort her sister Mary’s priorities out – to get her into the kitchen preparing the meal with her.
Jesus’s response is timely for you and I today whose lives are barren with business!
Luke 10: 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.
As I have sat by the bedside of many people who are about to die, not one of them has ever said to me, “I wish I had spent more time working…”
I continue to see family’s falling apart at the seams with monumental difficulties, heartaches and sadness. Most due to dad not being the solid spiritual head of the home, his lack of godly leadership means the family is going to end up shipwrecked and souls will be lost.
The family so busy with other stuff that God is completely neglected in their lives.
Examine your life and that of your family this day. Just how busy are you with stuff?
The beauty and simplicity of a life with Jesus is what He desires for us all. Just one thing is needed.
Mary showed us in this simple clear picture of her sitting at the feet of Jesus, hearing Him speak to her what that one thing looks like.
Am I saying stop work, become a hermit a recluse and just sit? No!
But the picture Mary gives us is that we clutter our lives with unimportant things giving them priority over that which is the most important – our relationship with our Lord.
Marthas intentions were great, but not as important as being with Jesus as He was the guest in their home. It’s time to reprioritise, and time to put things in order.
Throw the table over in your own life and that of your family. Get rid of the junk that has crept into your lives.
For the day is fast approaching when we give an account of what we have done with what we have been given!