DON’T LET WORRY DISTRACTS YOU FROM HEARING JESUS
SCRIPTURE:
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38—42)
OBSERVATION:
Jesus came to a village and Martha opened her home to him and his disciples. Martha sister Mary lives with her. Martha has a wonderful gift of hospitality. Her gift is a beautiful gift to have. And because of her gift she was DISTRACTED by all the preparations that has to be made to welcome the Lord. Our gifts can be a distraction from what God is trying to do in our lives. Mary on the other hand, chose to SIT AT THE LORD’S FEET LISTENING TO WHAT HE SAID.
Here in these passages gives an amazing lesson to a balance life. Martha wasn’t doing anything wrong as far as how she is gifted. Jesus did not condemn her because of her gifting but because of DISTRACTION. When we are distracted we lose focus on what is important at the time. When we always do things in routine without knowing what time it is we lose our opportunity. When we miss our opportunity, we blame others for it. THE ROOT CAUSE FOR DISTRACTION, IS WORRIED ABOUT MANY THINGS.
Martha complained to Jesus saying, Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? This is an interesting statement. It looks like Mary find a spot in the presence of Jesus to be rested. Mary might have helped Martha earlier, but when she heard Jesus talk, she choose that moment to SIT at his feet and soak it in.
On the other hand, Martha may have heard what Jesus was saying, until she sees that Mary was more interested in hearing Jesus rather than doing what she was supposed to do, helping her sister. I must learn to how to balance a time of doing what I am called to do and a time of sitting and hear Jesus speaks. As I noticed earlier, it wasn’t the problem of Martha’s gifting, but a problem of distraction. But what was the distraction? Jesus revealed the issue that Martha had, she was distracted because SHE WORRIES AND UPSET ABOUT MANY THINGS.
So many times, I am challenge with a sense of urgency that drives me to focus on the task instead of learn to sit at Jesus feet and learn from him what he must teach me. What I think is urgent may not be what Jesus thinks it is. What I do for Jesus brings joy to Jesus, but what is most important is to sit and commune with him. He values my time sitting and fellowshipping with him more than being distracted by what I am pressured by to be done.
Busyness in service to Jesus must always follow being in the presence of Jesus first. Distraction is a byproduct of being worried about so many things. Jesus said, Martha, Martha, why are you worry and upset about many things? There is ONLY one thing that is necessary and Mary has chosen the BETTER, and it will not be taken from her. I must make a choice of what is BEST at every time I am given I face an opportunity. Not that everything I do aren’t good, but sometimes I need to choose right at the moment while I am doing other good things what is the BEST thing to do at that moment.
APPLICATION:
Worry is a pressure factor that always, always, cause me to be distracted and miss opportunity. Everything I am doing are all good, but are they good for that moment of the day, or should I paused and sit and think of narrowing down to the BEST thing to do. I cannot possibly do all that I want to do today. I need a time to pause and listen to Christ in me direct and lead me to the best things to do and achieve today. I learn today from Mary, to leave the distraction of doing good things to hear Jesus on how to do the BEST thing at the moment. This year, I continue to learn the attitude of Mary, not letting the TASK BE MY MASTER, BUT LET JESUS WORDS BE MY MASTER for every task I will face this year.
PRAYER:
Jesus, I ask that you lead me and guide me with your word to do the BEST thing this year. Holy Spirit please guide and lead me choose wisely and to pause and hear your direction. Teach me to differentiate between good and best in what I am doing in my life. Forgive me for times I am prone to complain because others aren’t doing the things that I thought they should be doing. I ask that you move in such a way that I am able to hear you even in the midst of pressures from plannings and events on my calendar. Help me to focus on what is best and the courage to stop and hear you daily. Amen!
