Saturday 2 June 2007

Worried and Bothered


We live at such a busy time. The things we have to do often get in wht way of the things we ought to do. Jesus met a lady called Martha who was having this same problem and He gave her some great advise.

When Jesus travelled to Jerusalem for the feasts and festivals He attended, it was not His habit to stay in the city over night. Rather, He would travel about 3 or 4 kilometres over the mount of Olives to the village of Bethany. There He would stay in the house of Lazarus and his two sisters Mary and Martha.

On His first visit there, Jesus was invited to stay in their house by Martha. Now Martha was a wonderful woman. She was full of faith. She was a very practical woman and one who loved to share her hospitality. When she knew the Lord was in her town and she wanted to do all that she could to make him comfortable.

We read in Luke Chapter 10 of Martha busy with preparations for the Lord. I think we can understand the feeling she had. She has such an important guest, everything had to be just right. She was so busy doing everything she could, but when she looked for her sister, all Mary was doing was siting at Jesus’ feet, listening to Him.

Martha was indignant about this. Here she was doing all the work while her sister was doing nothing. I think we can understand her emotions, maybe we could even side her indignation. She was doing all the work and Mary was doing nothing. Martha went straight up to the Lord asking Him to tell Mary to do some of the work.

Martha was not ready for His reply, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

I think in this life we often find ourselves in the same position as Martha. Things are so busy. We have so many important tasks to do. Time is always getting away from us. We are so worried and bothered by so many things that we don’t have time for the Lord.

Mary showed us a wonderful example. She was able to stop and listen to the Lord. How much easier our lives would be if we were to just do that. Put aside the worries and bothers of this life for a while and dedicate some time to the Lord.

Life seems so important with all its demands on our time. But just how important are these things when we compare them to eternity? Yes, there are plenty of things that we have to do in life, but remember the example of Mary. Let’s stop occasionally, give some time to the Lord and listen to Him. Let us chose the good part, that part which will not be taken away from us.

7 comments:

Sam said...

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Keith Thomson said...

Thanks sandpaper, but making money isn't what I am writing for.

Keith

J.L. Murphey said...

Keith,

I love your space and will stop by again. I agree nothing is moer important than eternity. Given that you read my juggling blog it almost sounds like I am Martha instead of Mary, but I'm Mary at heart...God, Family, Job.

Jo

Keith Thomson said...

Hi Jo,

It's OK to be busy, ust as long as you remember to put God first. It was te fact that Martha's hospitality got in her way of serving Christ spiritually that wsa the problem. Notice what we read in John 11:21-27. We can see her strong faith here. Also John 12:2, she is back to her hospitality, but is was not a stumbling block for her.

Keith

Niladri said...

Nice post , check out my blog when you have the time

comtemplatee said...

maybe i am not a christian but i believe god exits everywhere and he or she permeats in our aspects of our lives! so i truly believe that one should join a church that they believe in so they can communicate with god easier !

Keith Thomson said...

Thanks comtemplatee for your comment, I appriciate it.

Not only do you have to join a church that you believe in, more importantly you have to join and church that God believes in!

Colosians 1:18 says 'He is also head of the body, the church" Ephesians 4:4 says, "There is one body and one spirt, just as you were called in one hope of your calling."

Christ is the head of only one body. I want to make sure that I am in that body, that church.

Keith