Intimacy Vs Activity

Intimacy vs. activity

“Few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better.” Lk 10:42 NIV

Intimacy vs. activity

When Jesus visited the home of Mary and Martha, their individual responses to Him were very different.

Martha’s focus was on the meal. Her aim was to please Jesus.

But she made a common mistake; her work became more important than her Lord.

What began as a serving experience became a self-serving one. She forgot the meal was to honor Jesus, not her.

She said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (v. 40 NIV).

And what did Jesus say?

“Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed…Mary has chosen what is better” (vv. 41-42 NIV).

And what had Mary chosen? Intimacy with Jesus!

The danger of religious activity is that sometimes it’s designed to make us feel good about ourselves and look good in front of others.

Choosing activity over intimacy also happens to people who love the Lord and aren’t necessarily involved in church work.

It’s amazing how many bright, successful people reach the point of burnout because they have neglected their relationship with God.

They never intended to; it’s just that they have learned to make it on their own and haven’t been forced to rely on Him.

Or they have bought into a “religious compartmentalization” of God—like He is just another weekly appointment on Sunday mornings.

The fact that Jesus chose intimacy over activity teaches us a very important lesson:

Until you put your relationship with God at the center of your life, you will struggle to find your true purpose, enjoy the fruit of your labors, and experience God’s peace and joy.

― A.W. Tozer

“Let us be alert to the season in which we are living. It is the season of the Blessed Hope, calling for us to cut our ties with the world and build ourselves on this One who will soon appear. He is our hope—a Blessed Hope enabling us to rise above our times and fix our gaze upon Him.” ― A.W. Tozer, Preparing for Jesus' Return: Daily Live the Blessed Hope

“The first time [Christ] came to slay sin in men. The second time He will come to slay men in sin.” ― A. W. Pink

“Bible teaching about the Second Coming of Christ was thought of as “doomsday” preaching. But not anymore. It is the only ray of hope that shines as an ever brightening beam in a darkening world.” ― Billy Graham, Billy Graham in Quotes

Matthew 24:45–51 NKJV

45 “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. 47 Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. 48 But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ 49 and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, 50 the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of, 51 and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.