Finding Balance in 2020
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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.”
Good Morning, Well, it’s been a busy week full of different emotions for us… We got to celebrate Julotta on Wednesday…Thankful for a beautiful service… It has also been a very difficult week for our community. As we learned of the tragic accident of Lee and Debbies son.. Eddy… and our hearts go out to Lee and Debbie, Nathan,Jack and Maddie and Family..
… To be honest this has been a difficult week for our community.
Trust that you had a good Christmas with family… To be honest this has been a difficult week for our community.
It's been difficult week for our community. Our hearts go out to Lee and Debbie, Nathan,Jack and Maddie and Family.. on the tragic loss of Eddy on Christmas Eve. Hope that you are feeling the love for family… we love you and we feel your heart ache and we trusting God for continual strength over this coming week and months ahead.. This is when the Church family really counts ---
Our hearts go out to Lee and Debbie, Nathan,Jack and Maddie and Family.. on the tragic loss of son Eddy on Christmas Eve.
and Our hearts go out to Lee and Debbie, Nathan,Jack and Maddie and Family.. on the loss of Eddy.... There have been many tears and prayers...
Hope that you are feeling the love for family… we love you and we feel your heart ache and we trusting God for continual strength over this coming week and months ahead.. This is when the Church family really counts ---
Words can’t even begin to express the way that we feel… we are trusting that you feel our love and we are praying that God would meet us and help us in this time of need…
trusting God for continual strength over this coming week and months ahead.. This is when the Church family really counts ---
You need to know that we love you and we understand that this is going to be a journey … and we hoping to walk you this.. over the coming weeks and months ahead... This is when the Church family really counts --- I am so thankful for this community and those of you that have stepped up...
This morning, we are going take a few moment to talk about the importance of Finding Balance...
and I was drawn to the text of this interaction between Jesus and his favorite people to
and I want to talk about Finding Balance in 2020… When things are balanced in our lives things just work better… And to be honest it is quite easy to mix up our priorities and get our of alignment…and you may not even recongnize the systems.. If you have ever got new tires… that first time is so smooth… everything is aligned and wheals are balanced… it is like you are floating on the Highway…
I want to talk about Finding Balance in 2020…
When things are balanced in our lives things just work better… And to be honest it is quite easy to mix up our priorities and get our of alignment…and you may not even recognize the systems.. If you have ever got new tires… that first time is so smooth… everything is aligned and wheals are balanced… it is like you are floating on the Highway…
As we face a new year a new decade. It maybe in order to take stock of the past decade... Where goals met.... ..
There are certain memories that are vivid to me from my childhood…And one of them was learning to ride a bike… our front yard sat on a a bit of incline and my dad held onto the seat… and he ran next to me several times… and pushed me down the hill… letting go now and then… and he tell me to pedal… I remember that sensation of trying to find the center of gravity. . .place of Balance… you lean to one side and then you have to lean on the other-side... and the key is to keep Pedaling....
As we face a new year... we coming to a brand New Decade... It maybe in order to take stock of the past decade... Where goals met..and maybe we had some goals and kind of missed the Mark... Here is the thing maybe this morning God will stir something new in our hearts...
I want to talk about Finding Balance in 2020…
As we face a new year... we coming to a brand New Decade... It maybe in order to take stock of the past decade... Where goals met..and maybe we had some goals and kind of missed the Mark... Here is the thing maybe this morning God will stir something new in our hearts...
remember the sensation of finding the center of gravity. .. the Pedaling on my own…
There is lot we can learn about ridding a bike --- Because in order to move forward in life you can’t just pedal… You have to learn how to keep your balance....
When things are balanced in our lives things just work better… Whether it’s your car tires, your check book, your schedule, your spiritual life… When those things are unbalanced we feel it...
And to be honest it is quite easy to mix up our priorities and get our of alignment…
Sometimes we
it's amazing what you remember from you childhood. I remember learning to ride a bike… our front yard sat on a ncline and my dad held onto the seat… and he ran next to me several times… i remember the sensation of finding the center of gravity. .. the Pedaling on my own…
Every year we faced with new opportunities... new challenges... What is our approach...
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.”
Luke 10:38-
When things are balanced in our lives things just work better… Whether it’s your car tires, your check book, your schedule, your spiritual life…
These are good friends of Jesus... you get the sense that Jesus felt comfortable and at home at there Home... Part of the reason is that Martha had this wonderful gifted of Hospitality.... She had that way that made you feel welcome at totally at home... We all have gifts and we love using our gifts... here is the thing .... that if we don't learn how to balance our gifts with restoration we are going to find that we are going to burn out... One of the challenges we have is to find the balance... We have two of Jesus favorite People that two different strengths... What we tend to do is polarize the two examples... Martha often represents Works and Mary represents Worship... We tend to look down at Martha... because she seems to be so worldly and we spiritualize Mary... Where is we look at Jesus teachings they were actualized in both woman’s lives... Both Woman are woman of excellence and noble character... The story of Mary and Martha is actually about the necessity of the Word of God in a life of Active service for the Lord..
This morning we are going to be looking at our text — and going to be looking at Jesus visit to his Good friends in Bethany… Mary, Martha and Lazarus…
Jesus is going to teach this family about the importance of having the right priorities and having the right goals...
comfortable and at home at there Home... Part of the reason is that Martha had this wonderful gifted of Hospitality.... She had that way that made you feel welcome at totally at home... We all have gifts and we love using our gifts... here is the thing .... that if we don't learn how to balance our gifts with restoration we are going to find that we are going to burn out... One of the challenges we have is to find the balance... We have two of Jesus favorite People that two different strengths... What we tend to do is polarize the two examples... Martha often represents Works and Mary represents Worship... We tend to look down at Martha... because she seems to be so worldly and we spiritualize Mary... Where is we look at Jesus teachings they were actualized in both woman’s lives... Both Woman are woman of excellence and noble character... The story of Mary and Martha is actually about the necessity of the Word of God in a life of Active service for the Lord..
and going to be looking at this familiar interaction between Mary and Martha…
Where we are given two contrasts and examples on how to find balance..
this familiar interaction between to Mary and Martha....Where are given examples on how to live with balance..
These are good friends of Jesus... you get the sense that Jesus felt comfortable and at home at there Home... Part of the reason is that Martha had this wonderful gifted of Hospitality.... She had that way that made you feel welcome at totally at home... We all have gifts and we love using our gifts... here is the thing .... that if we don't learn how to balance our gifts with restoration we are going to find that we are going to burn out... One of the challenges we have is to find the balance... We have two of Jesus favorite People that two different strengths... What we tend to do is polarize the two examples... Martha often represents Works and Mary represents Worship... We tend to look down at Martha... because she seems to be so worldly and we spiritualize Mary... Where is we look at Jesus teachings they were actualized in both woman’s lives... Both Woman are woman of excellence and noble character... The story of Mary and Martha is actually about the necessity of the Word of God in a life of Active service for the Lord..
In we have this familiar interaction between Mary and Martha… Where we are given two contrasts and examples on how to find balance..
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.”
luke 10:38-
It is interesting that Jesus desires to spend these precious hours with this family which he has developed a close bond. These are good friends of Jesus... you get the sense that Jesus felt comfortable and at home at there Home...
Jesus travel to visit his good friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany which is about 2 miles outside of Jersualem.
Jesus travel to visit his good friends Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany which is about 2 miles outside of Jersualem.
The timing of his visit is important, because it towards the end of Jesus ministry... just one week before the passover in Jerusalem…when Jesus is going to lay down his life on the cross....
where he wiling will lay down his life on the cross....
where he wiling will lay down his life on the cross....
The timing of his visit is important, because it towards the end of Jesus ministry... just one week before the passover in Jerusalem…when Jesus is going to lay down his life on the cross....This is really the backdrop of the Gospels…this motif or this journey to Jerusalem… the timing of the visit is essential to understanding what’s going on in the text...
Jesus chooses to spend these precious hours with this family which he has developed a close bond. Martha, Mary and Lazarus are his good friends of Jesus... you get the sense that Jesus is able to relax and be refreshed at their house… one of the reasons for this was Martha who was an amazing hostess who exhuded with the gift of hospitality. It is not surprising that when Jesus arrives in Bethany Martha is the first person to reach out to him and to welcome him into her home… Martha was one of those hostesses that put it extra effort… She loved entertaining… Everything was just perfect..
This is the week before he goes to Jerusalem... The week before the Passion where He goes to the cross..It is interesting that Jesus chooses to spend these precious hours with this family which he has developed a close bond.
These are good friends of Jesus... you get the sense that Jesus felt comfortable and at home at there Home...
These are good friends of Jesus... you get the sense that Jesus felt comfortable and at home at their Home...
When Jesus arrives in Bethany Martha is the first person to reach out to him and to welcome him into her home…
. These are good friends of Jesus... you get the sense that Jesus felt comfortable and at home at there Home...
She was one of those hostesses that put it extra effort… She loved entertaining… Everything was just perfect..
Part of the reason is that Martha was gifted with the gift of Hospitality.... When Jesus arrives in Bethany she is the first person to reach out to him and to welcome him into her home…She was one of those hostesses that put it extra effort… She loved entertaining… Everything was just perfect..
She was one of those hostesses that put it extra effort… She loved entertaining… Everything was just perfect..
\The first thing we notice is that it is Martha who is the first to come out of the House... Mary has this huge heart for hospitality... There are those people that when you are in their presence have a way of making you feel incredibly special...
There are those people that when you are in their presence have a way of making you feel incredibly special...
We have two of Jesus favorite People that two different personalities and strengths… Martha has a gift of Hospitality..... Mary… is a Worshiper… Martha Welcomed Jesus and Jesus listened to Jesus..
One of the challenges we have is to find the balance... We have two of Jesus favorite People that two different strengths...
We have two of Jesus favorite People that two different personalities and strengths… Martha has a gift of Hospitality..... Mary… is a Worshiper… Martha Welcomed Jesus and Jesus listened to Jesus..
People have looked at Martha over the years and seen the contrast with Mary. Especially back in the Middle Ages, the church said, “Ah!
The difference between Mary and Martha is the difference between the contemplative life (full-time Christian ministry) and the secular life.”
People have looked at Martha over the years and seen the contrast with Mary. Especially back in the Middle Ages, the church said, “Ah! The difference between Mary and Martha is the difference between the contemplative life (full-time Christian ministry) and the secular life.”
What we tend to do with this text is is polarize the two examples... . We tend to look down at Martha... because she seems to be so worldly and worried about the kitchen and then we tend spiritualize Mary...
But what we have in our text are two excellent qualities… service and worship… …
To be honest we need both Mary’s and Martha’s… We need those who will get into the kitchen and things done… but at the same time we those who know how to pray and seek the Lord ... those who are spiritually strong…
Both Woman are woman of excellence and noble character... Both Martha and Mary pattern the proper response to the messenger of the kingdom of God. They show love for God by opening themselves to the message/messenger that now comes to them from God
To be honest we need both Mary’s and Martha’s… We need those who will get into the kitchen and things done… but at the same time we those who know how to pray and seek the Lord ... those who are spiritually strong
Martha and Mary pattern the proper response to the messenger of the kingdom of God. They show love for God by opening themselves to the message/messenger that now comes to them from God
What this particular story deals with is the importance of Balancing our priorities and setting the right goals… and finding our Center of Gravity
The story of Mary and Martha is actually about the necessity of the Word of God in a life of Active service for the Lord..
Balance is not simply about stopping... if you stop on your Bike you Fall over.... it about finding the mean... or the medium... when we are balanced we function at the our optimum... What often happens is that we tend to over extend ourselves and then we struggle to keep up with pace.. We burn out... then we give up… The same thing happens if we don’t serve…
Martha's lesson in finding Balance in her life... Between Being and Doing... Balance is not simply about stopping... Balance is all about finding the mean... or the medium... when we are balanced we function at the our optimum... What often happens is that we tend to over extend ourselves and then we struggle to keep up with pace.. We burn out... then we give up...
It is finding the Balance between Being and Doing..... if we don't learn how to balance our gifts with restoration we are going to find that we are going to burn out...
Balance is all about finding the mean... or the medium... when we are balanced we function at the our optimum... What often happens is that we tend to over extend ourselves and then we struggle to keep up with pace.. We burn out... then we give up...
We all have gifts and we love using our gifts... here is the thing .... that if we don't learn how to balance our gifts with restoration we are going to find that we are going to burn out...
One of the challenges we have is to find the balance...
T/SWhat we learn from Martha and Mary is how to find Balance.. We...
Balance is about Learning to Serve well -
How Do we Find Balance..
1. Find Balance by discovering and using Your Gifts.
1. Find Balance by discovering and using Your Gifts.
What we learn from Martha is the importance of using our gifts in serving the Lord… Works are to be viewed as something positive… Jesus had just taught the parable of the Good Samaritan…
The priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan were doing the right thing. This injured man might possibly be dead, and touching him would render them ceremonially unclean. They would be unable to enter the synagogue to teach and preach. Theological propriety kept them from acting in love. Martha’s social proprieties kept her from focusing her attention on Jesus and His agenda for her life..
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
Col
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Samaritan where there is Samaritan who wounded on the side of the road… and both religious leaders… the scribe and the Pharisee walk by the man who is in desporate need of medical attention… Once commentator pointed out that if they had touched the man they would have been considered unclean and not perform their duties in the temple...
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
Balance includes a healthy view between works and rest.. Work is a necessity of life…
Martha Welcomed Jesus into her Home... movement is from the outside into her home... From the moment Jesus arrives she receives Him... Hospitality is about receiving others... It is about building meaningful relationships.... I have learned that in ministry nobody cares how much you know they care how much you care..... When we hang out together and have conversation and show interest in one another that important stuff...
Martha Welcomed Jesus into her Home... movement is from the outside into her home... From the moment Jesus arrives she receives Him... Hospitality is about receiving others... It is about building meaningful relationships.... I have learned that in ministry nobody cares how much you know they care how much you care..... When we hang out together and have conversation and show interest in one another that important stuff...
I mention a few weeks ago --- That there is a whole theology of food in the NT.. One of the ways the early church grew was through connecting and meeting together in each others homes... and breaking bread together... loving on each other... There is the theology of food...
Service mean ministry - diakonia - It speaks of Hospitality - the act of providing -- to meet a practical need... It is a wonderful gift... to be able to serve others.. It is listed as a gift in Romans
if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching;
om 12:7
Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,
knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.
Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
The Problem with Martha.. is that she got distracted by all her business..
1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.
3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty.
4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
5 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch.
6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
While Martha gets caught up in being a Hostess --- her sister Mary takes time to sit and Jesus feet... And Martha sees that Worship is getting in the way of service...
T/S How do we find Balance.
2. Find Balance by Making time Spiritual Restoration.
2. Find Balance by Making time Spiritual Restoration.
We need to be careful the way that we understand Rest..... Rest does not equal recreation... Now, I am not saying that there is not restorative value in going into nature.. fishing.. or going on a vacation... These things maybe part of the restorative process..
Mary sits at the Lord feet..
Mary Sat at the feet of Jesus -- speaks of being adjacent or very near to something... we can be near to Jesus and his teaching.... that is the posture of a learner and disciple --- Learning requires that we put ourselves under the authority of scripture... Learning is an activity...
. Mary Sat at the feet of Jesus -- speaks of being adjacent or very near to something... we can be near to Jesus and his teaching.... that is the posture of a learner and disciple --- Learning requires that we put ourselves under the authority of scripture... Learning is an activity...
Mary’s posture expressed a desire to learn… she sat at she listened to Jesus… Here the Greek imperfect tense hearing… speaks of Mary being locked into every word and absorbing Jesus words...
Mary was an intense learner… Here is the thing… Mary is often portrayed in terms of her subjective adoration or her passionate worship of Jesus. There is such awe with any disciple. But the telling point is her rapt attention to the Word.
Here the Greek imperfect tense hearing… speaks of Mary being locked into every word and absorbing Jesus words...
So often she is sentimentally portrayed in terms of her subjective adoration or her passionate worship of Jesus. There is such awe with any disciple. But the telling point is her rapt attention to the Word.
Mary took the time to contemplate the teachings of Christ... Can you imagine listen to Jesus words... God literally speaking to the very depths of your heart and soul... Words of life... words that transform and change... Here is the thing is that we still have that privilege to let His words impact our lives... But it comes in a distraction free environment... It comes through active listening of contemplation, observation and application..
So often she is sentimentally portrayed in terms of her subjective adoration or her passionate worship of Jesus. There is such awe with any disciple. But the telling point is her rapt attention to the Word.
Mary took the time to contemplate the teachings of Christ... Can you imagine listen to Jesus words... God literally speaking to the very depths of your heart and soul... Words of life... words that transform and change... Here is the thing is that we still have that privilege to let His words impact our lives... But it comes in a distraction free environment... It comes through active listening of contemplation, observation and application..
Mary took the time to contemplate the teachings of Christ... Can you imagine listen to Jesus words... God literally speaking to the very depths of your heart and soul... Words of life... words that transform and change... Here is the thing is that we still have that privilege to let His words impact our lives... But it comes in a distraction free environment... It comes through active listening of contemplation, observation and application..
Martha is thinking that Working in the kitchen is expending energy... It takes energy to be a learner.... We all understand that learning is difficult... While Martha is distracted with business ---Mary is zoned in... tuned into the teachings of Jesus.
Come to me and learn of me...
33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
4 One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.
3. Find Balance by
discerning the Right time.
3. Find Balance by
discerning the Right time.
This is a very real domestic scene.. things that happen everyday in households... where there are chores to be done.. Seems that some of us are better than others..
Martha is using here hospitality gift... she is hard at it.. maybe she is getting weary by all the dishes... She thinks this would go a lot quicker if I had help.. Where is Mary... she looks over into the room and there is Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus…
There are number of reasons why Martha was loosing in the Kitchen… Number one she was doing all the work…
Now in the Jewish mindset it was men that sat under Rabbi’s —Jesus broke all the gender norms… He places a high value of women… Jesus broke all the social norms of the day....
Secondly,
Martha’s complaint fits the circumstances and would be seen as completely valid. She is doing what women are supposed to do, working hard at preparing the meal and making everyone comfortable.
Mary is doing what only male disciples are supposed to do. She has “left [Martha] to do the work” by herself, and so she wants Jesus to “tell her to help me.” To her (and most Jews) Mary’s true place is alongside Martha in the kitchen, not at Jesus’ feet.
What we learn about Jesus in our text is
that —Jesus broke all the gender norms… He places a high value of women… Jesus broke all the social norms of the day....
The kingdom of God inaugurated by Jesus is not reserved for one ethnicity or gender, but is open to Jew and Gentile, slave and free, male and female
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
... Jesus directs Martha not to the torah but to himself and he says One thing is needful… Jesus deliberately placed himself above law and legalism..
The problem with Martha’s service was she was distracted… She became disconnected from some realities in front of her......
The failure of Martha is not the work issue but more of a timing issue...
Martha did not realize that at that critical time in Jesus’ life he would have preferred her company over her service—and that he regarded her fellowship with him as more important than serving him a meal.
Her sense of priorities was skewed. Given where Jesus was on the road to Jerusalem, some things were more important than a good meal
Luke tells us that Martha was distracted with "much service." Possible to get distracted by service.
Martha had a misconception of the relationship between Work and Worship... Martha focused on the urgent and unimportant... While Mary focused on the Not urgent but important...
The problem is that Martha gets unbalanced…Works come easy to Martha… We tend to easily flow in our gifting… because it is natural to us…
---- Martha is concerned with Jesus --- not caring. When things are not getting done... it seems as though nobody cares... Don't you care lord that I am doing everything on my own?
The problem is that
---- Martha is concerned with Jesus --- not caring. When things are not getting done... it seems as though nobody cares... Don't you care lord that I am doing everything on my own?
There is this human side to the story .. where it bothered Martha so much that Mary was sitting and not helping... In fact she is not only frustrated at Mary but also with Jesus... it is eating her on the inside.. and she has to do something about it... she went up to Jesus. "Lord do your not CARE that my Sister has left me alone to SERVE alone... Martha is not worried about a confrontation with Mary...
Martha attempted to force Mary to serve Christ her way. She wanted Mary away from Jesus’ feet and in the kitchen with her, because in her estimation, what she was doing was more important.
Here is the thing I have noticed about serving is it can feel a little lonely...
Here is the thing I have noticed about serving is it can feel a little lonely...
Is there anyone else that is going to volunteer? The same people going to volunteer again... just getting real... that's what serving feels like...
This must be the most audacious request in the Bible... Maybe Jesus is being a typical man.. and you have to spell it out... "Tell her then to help me." We get some insight into Jesus attitude towards us... there are times when we behave badly... we are indifferent and otherwise..
One of the down sides of Service gifts is knowing how to be restored… There is something satisfying about doing… you get that immediate fix of a task accomplished…
While Mary was listening and learning from learning... Martha is distracted and Mary is focused.. the word troubled means to be disquieted... disturbed. She had lost her peace... Sometimes in the midst of business ---- stress we loose our peace... There are many thoughts that are running around in her mind... to do lists..... We all feel the presures of getting things done... pressure of work, pressure of family, presures of finances, pressure of relationships... How much time do we spent in the quadrant of anxiety... These are the areas that we really have no control.... Jesus advice to deal with things that we control is to focus on one thing.... Cast you cares upon him... Come to Him you who are heavy laden and He will give you rest...
Mary has chosen her portion... portion speaks of Share or inheritance... Paul uses the exact same word when Praying for the believers at Colossi --
Col 1:11
Being Strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might --- share in the inheritance of the saints of life.... There is the believers portion...
Preaching the Word: Luke, Vol. 1—That You May Know the Truth Loving Correction (vv. 41, 42)
Jesus here provides wisdom for all who are serving Christ in various callings. It is all too common, and too easy, for our service to Christ to drag us away from his Word
You have to love the tone...
.. Martha, Martha ... you are ANXIOUS and TROUBLED about many things...
To many times we have a thousand things going on in our minds - where only one thing is required.. One thing...
Which out Works and listening.... the better choice at this moment is to be listening... Good Portion.... Jesus says I am not going to take this away from Mary... I am not going to share your grieveness because what Mary has received at the feet of Jesus far out ways anything that could be accomplished in the Kitchen..
There is a contrast of listen and learning... and to being overwhelmed and anxious....
While Mary was listening and learning from learning... Martha is distracted and Mary is focused.. the word troubled means to be disquieted... disturbed. She had lost her peace...
Sometimes in the midst of business ---- stress we loose our peace... There are many thoughts that are running around in her mind... to do lists..... We all feel the presures of getting things done... pressure of work, pressure of family, presures of finances, pressure of relationships... How much time do we spent in the quadrant of anxiety... These are the areas that we really have no control....
It is interesting that Martha does all the talking in this section, and Mary never says a word, just centering on Jesus and his teaching.
Jesus says to here
Martha, Martha,” Jesus answered, “you are worried and upset about many things” (v. 41).
When Jesus says, “Martha, Martha,” do you know what he is doing? In Semitic language, the doubling of a word means magnification.
When Jesus says, “Martha, Martha,” do you know what he is doing? In Semitic language, the doubling of a word means magnification.
When it comes to the doubling of a name, it means tremendous intensity and magnification of feeling
The repetition of Martha’s name conveys Jesus’ affection for her, and an understanding of her predicament. “All the preparations” (v. 40) have made her anxious and distracted by “many things” (v. 41). Jesus does not condemn Martha, but reminds her with gentleness and firmness of a better way.
Jesus advice to deal with things that we control is to focus on one thing.... Cast you cares upon him... Come to Him you who are heavy laden and He will give you rest...
Mary has chosen the good portion...
Lets take a second to talk about Choices… Martha Chose to be busy… she could have easy turned everything off… but she chose to continue… Mary Chose… to sit and learn at the feet of Jesus..
The message is that it’s not in the big events of your life and it’s not in the pivotal events of your life that your character is forged. It’s not in those places. Those places only reveal what you have become, but those things are too seldom to ever make you anything. Those things do not make you. Those things only reveal what other mundane, day-in-and-day-out situations have made you.
n other words, think of it this way. It’s not the whale situations (the five or six that come along in your life) that really make you who you are; it’s all the guppies. Every morning you wake up and millions of them come at you. You have to eat. You have to sleep. You have appointments, exercise. You have to work it all in. There are a tremendous number of these things that come at you: the mundane, the hum-drum, the hustle and bustle … All the things.
exercise. You have to work it all in. There are a tremendous number of these things that come at you: the mundane, the hum-drum, the hustle and bustle … All the things.
The difference between Mary and Martha is Martha is swept along by them. She’s swept along. It’s sort of like a stream, and she’s just being taken with them. Mary has put her feet at the bottom of the stream, and in spite of the fact the stream is going that way, Mary walks in the direction she wants to walk. Mary finds time for focused attention and sitting at the Lord’s feet in spite of distractions, in spite of opposition, and she does it.
Jesus tells Martha that Mary had made the better choice… because what she chose will never be taken… Spiritual investments have eternal value… The Good porition speaks of Share or inheritance...
When Paul Praying for the believers at Colossians he uses this exact same word used in Luke…
portion speaks of Share or inheritance... Paul uses the exact same word when Praying for the believers at Colossians that they would be stengthened
11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
Spending time in God’s word is never wasted time… it has this eternal reward…
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Being Strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might --- share in the inheritance of the saints of life.... There is the believers portion...
being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
What does it mean to sit at Jesus’ feet? Right away, everybody says, “What does that mean? What does it mean to sit at Jesus’ feet?” The best way to answer that question is let’s look at Martha. Let’s look at the one who is not sitting at Jesus’ feet. Let’s look at what she’s doing and the results in her life. Then let’s look at Mary and what she’s doing and the results in her life. Let’s look at who is not sitting at Jesus’ feet, and then let’s look at who is sitting at Jesus’ feet. Then we’ll have some idea about what it means to sit at Jesus’ feet.
Being Strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might --- share in the inheritance of the saints of life.... There is the believers portion...
The contrast... is that Martha is concerned about Many things.. What happens when we have too many worries anxieties is that it can literally choke the word of God that is sown into our lives… in the parable of the sower when the seed takes root and grows…the thorns resemble the cares of this life come and choke the effects of the word of God...
Jesus reminds Martha… of the simplicity of faith.. Martha is concerned with the Many… But in reality -- Only one thing is needed right now... It is all about timing -- this is Jesus final moments with his friends...
But in reality -- Only one thing is needed right now... It is all about timing -- this is Jesus final moments with his friends... Right now one thing is more important than anything else.. that would to be sitting and listening .. it is not the time to give -- it is time to be restored.. Mary is not being lazy... Mary has made a choice... Rest is an active choice... Out of the two choices.. Work and worship... Mary has made the right call...
Right now one thing is more important than anything else.. that would to be sitting and listening .. it is not the time to give -- it is time to be restored..
Mary is not being lazy... Mary has made a choice... Rest is an active choice... Out of the two choices.. Work and worship... Mary has made the right call...
The gospel of Jesus reprioritizes all of life.
Mary has made the gospel primary, to which all other things, even hospitality, are relative. The primacy of the gospel is the “good part,” for it alone determines the life of discipleship, and it shall not be taken from Mary.
The parable of the good Samaritan has provided a powerful illustration on the person-to-person dimension of God’s requirement of love. Now we are invited to attend to the vertical aspect of love of God, which comes to expression as a preoccupation with the word of God as brought by Jesus.
In the next five years... or those busy hours of doing are going to fade... But the words of Jesus are eternal words... they will never return void and will accomplish what they were sent to do ... The word of God is the Good portion... that will not be taken away....heaven and earth will pass away but his word will endure for ever
Conclusion
With this section, everything changes, for Jesus has in effect finished his mission to the Jewish people and now sets his face to Jerusalem to complete his destiny and bring God’s salvation to sinful humankind. For the next ten-plus chapters he will be completing his earthly work and preparing his disciples to carry it on via the universal mission. This begins with a trip through Samaria (9:51–56), the first step in taking his gospel message to the nations.
We all have aspects of Mary and Martha within us.... We all have the challenge to find the Balance between business…spending time with God in his word.
ary.
Preaching the Word: Luke, Vol. 1—That You May Know the Truth Martha’s Confession
The later occasion was the death of the sisters’ beloved brother, Lazarus. Lazarus had died during Jesus’ delay before coming to his bedside. Martha heard that Jesus was approaching, so leaving her grieving sister in the house, she went out to meet him. She was the same Martha—verbal, blunt, and to the point:
“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”