LUKE 10:38-42 – Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
THEME OF THE DAY. DON’T ALLOW IT TO RULE OUR LIVES. It happens with ease. Left alone, it not only happens with ease but without much thought. It never really screams for our attention. It just becomes part of our lives, though we are responsible for its presence. Oh, this “it” has a positive side. It will cause us to get a lot of things, even good things, done. It will also provide temporary enjoyment, but it is one of the most effective tools of the devil, world, and our flesh to do serious damage in our spiritual lives. It will leave consequences unable to be undone. It will bring stress and irritation into our lives. It will make us more like unbelievers than believers. It will confuse people who are looking at us for a genuine representation of the Christian life.
This “it” is the danger of a way too busy life filled with way too much worldly distractions and activities that cause us to neglect our walks with the Lord Jesus. Such neglect of the most important relationship in life cannot but cause great harm. We may not feel the adverse impacts immediately due to busyness, but we will and the thought of living with much regret and remorse over a wrongly prioritized life and wasted time will be a pain that is deep and lasting.
In today’s scripture, we find two examples of how we may deal with the “it” of busyness. The first one is Martha and she fails miserably. She not only allowed it but scheduled it into her life. And what were the consequences? Anxiety, inner turmoil, exhaustion, rebuke from the Lord, and a disrespectful attitude toward Jesus. That is what busyness will do. It will allow us to accomplish much of a worldly nature, even enjoy much from a worldly perspective, but it will leave a barren and dry soul never at rest. There is only one way to avoid the “it” of being a Martha and that is the second example on how to deal with the “it” of busyness – Mary.
Our Lord commends Mary for what she has chosen – Him, and that is the lesson to apply when it comes to overcoming the “it” of busyness – choose to do so. Friend, we will never get close to the Lord, never enjoy Him, never grow in grace, and never live a life of right priorities with no regret unless we say “no” to busyness and choose the “one thing necessary” – our relationship with the Lord. This will not be easy because we will have to say “no” to good activities, good events, and other good things in life, but we do so in the quest to choose the best over the good.
But there is another important part of conquering the “it” of busyness. We must deny what we think is best and let the Lord, His Word, and His Spirit show us what is best. There are so many good things we may do as individuals and families which compete for the best things. Allow me to provide a real life illustration – sports or activities on Sunday mornings. There is nothing wrong with sports and wholesome activities. They are good, but when chosen over the best – teaching and modeling for our children the priorities on the Lord’s Day are Him, His Word, and His people then the “it” of sports and activities is producing negative consequences with far-reaching impact on how our children view church and Sundays. That is why we need wisdom outside ourselves to ensure we don’t let the “it” of busyness cause us to miss His will and desires.
PRAYER: “Father, make me aware of all the things in life that scream for my time that in the realm of eternity matter little.”
QUOTE: “Be wise on the use of your time and resources. You have one life. Live it with the right priorities – God’s.”