A Good Neighbor Knows the Priority of Presence

A Good Neighbor Knows the Priority of Presence

Luke 10:38-42

1/24/21 a.m.

Intro: get all excited, go tell everybody, that Jesus Christ is King. But we need to get to know the King first and let Him speak into our lives. He brings transformation.

1. Service is good, but not to the exclusion of worship.

2. Worship is good, but not to the exclusion of service.

3. What is the ONE THING WE CAN GIVE OUR LIVES TO?

I. SERVICE IS GOOD, BUT NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF WORSHIP.

A. Martha is the first person seen, and she has a highly commendable character. It is said that “Jesus loved Martha” (Jn. 11:5). Therefore, it is important to see the strong points of her character and to see what it was that caused a person who was so strong to fail.

1 Martha was a giving person. Note that she owned a house so large she could give lodging to Jesus and His apostles. Taking care of so many was expensive, yet she willingly entertained them. The next two traits also show how giving she was.

2 Martha was a courageous person. It was now dangerous to associate too closely with Jesus, especially around Jerusalem. The authorities were seeking some way to kill Jesus (see Jn. 7:25, 30, 32). Many of His own disciples had forsaken Him (Jn. 6:66) and others were now speaking against Him (Jn. 7:20, 43–44). Even His own family had rejected Him (Jn. 7:3–5). Nevertheless, Martha welcomed Him; she was willing to let the world know of her devotion to Him.

3 Martha was a caring and loving person. She loved and cared for her sister Mary. Note that Mary was living with Martha and that her brother Lazarus was also living there (Jn. 11:1f). For some unknown reason, Martha was taking care of them both. She felt a deep devotion for her family, loving and caring for them very much. This was apparent even in the midst of the disturbance she felt toward Mary (v. 40). Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). The Gospel according to Luke (p. 218). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

B. These are all good qualities we should demonstrate in our lives

1 BE a giving person.

2 BE a courageous person.

3 BE a caring and loving person.

4 This especially as we relate it to the kind of neighbors we are and our witness to them and the world.

5 Hospitality is a big thing in the Middle East and certainly was important in Jesus' day. To not be a good host was not good. But Jesus gets us to think about priorities.

C. Jesus is teaching us though that service is secondary to presence.

1 Luke 10:42

2 Jesus prioritizes God’s presence and worship in our lives.

3 I think Martha had an understanding of the importance of her guest, but she didn't understand what was important to the heart of Jesus. She wants to make a good impression and treat her guest well, but she is missing what is close to the heart of Jesus, worship and doing the will of God. see John 4:34

4 Worship is more important than service. Service is to flow out of and from worship and relationship with God.

5 see Luke 24:27; Acts 28:23

6 "one thing is needed" - Mary is sitting in worship and devotion to Jesus, listening and receiving of His word being taught. This reminds me of the passage in John 4:23-24. God desires and seeks after true worshipers who will worship Him in spirit and truth.

7 Mary discovered the one thing that is needed, worship and devotion to Jesus. This discovery must be at the core of who we are.

II. WORSHIP IS GOOD, BUT NOT TO THE EXCLUSION OF SERVICE

A. Mary also had a commendable character. (Her name was Miriam in the Hebrew.)

1 She was loving and humble. Note how she loved Jesus; she attached herself to Him. Her love and devotion ran deep, so deep that nothing else mattered except being right next to Him. Note also her humility. She sat at His feet, not by His side and not in front of Him. The room or courtyard was large enough to entertain a large crowd, so she could have chosen to sit elsewhere. Mary definitely had a devoted love and a sense of humility toward her Lord.

a SHE WANTED A FRONT ROW SEAT

b NO DISTRACTIONS

2 She had a spiritual hunger for the Word of the Lord: she “heard His Word.” She sat there, fixing her eyes and attention upon Him. She centered her mind upon what He said, listening and concentrating and hearing every word. She did not take His message lightly. She hungered for the Word of Christ, so she absorbed His words and took them to heart. This means that she had …

a a spiritual hunger

b a readiness to hear

c a desire to surrender

d a willingness to do - Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). The Gospel according to Luke (p. 218). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

B. We can Learn from Mary

1 Jesus - He has the words of eternal life John 6:68.

2 Martha - she needs to learn a lesson on priorities and timing.

3 Mary - has learned that Jesus' word has to be listened to; she is devoted to Jesus.

4 Luke's Gospel is the Gospel of the perfect man, the Son of Man, our perfect example. He speaks authoritatively as to what is important to us and Mary models for us what is important.

5 Jesus is teaching us what is important and what we must devote our lives to.

6 Work on our relationship with Jesus first and allow Him to direct and confirm our service.

7 Acts 17:11

C. Scriptures on devotion to study God’s word

1 2 Tim 2:15

2 Joshua 1:8

3 Psalm 1:3

4 Psalm 119:105

5 John 17:17

D. But our study of God’s word is to lead us to action.

1 Eph 2:10

2 Titus 3:14

3 Col 3:16

III. WHAT IS THE ONE THING WE CAN GIVE OUR LIVES TO? A LIFE OF WORSHIP AND PRESENCE OUT OF WHICH FLOWS SERVICE

A. Jesus Christ

1 Worship Him

a John 4:23-24

b Psalm 27:4

c John 6:27

2 Fellowship with Him

a 1 John 1:3

b 2 Cor 13:14

B. Don’t allow the enemy to rob you of this blessing.

1 distracted - worship is the main thing (John 4:23-24) but she was distracted with serving.

2 serving - serving is good, but not more important than worship.

3 approached - to place at, place upon, place over.

a to stand by, be present

b to stand over one, place one's self above

c used esp. of persons coming upon one suddenly

d an angel, of the advent of angels

e of dreams

f of evils coming upon one

4 worried - anxious, to divide into parts. The word suggests a distraction, a preoccupation with things causing anxiety, stress, and pressure. Jesus speaks against worry and anxiety because of the watchful care of a heavenly Father who is ever mindful of our daily needs (NSFLB).

5 troubled - to be troubled in mind, disquieted.

C. What do we learn from this?

1 Man needs food and necessities and some social entertainment. But he is not to be distracted by these. He is not to be choked by the cares of this world.

2 “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Lu. 8:14). Leadership Ministries Worldwide. (1996). The Gospel according to Luke (p. 219). Chattanooga, TN: Leadership Ministries Worldwide.

IV. ACTIVATION/ALTAR CALL

A. Give ourselves to Jesus Christ and fellowship with Him

B. Let Him direct and ordain your service to others