Faulty Focus
Notes
Transcript
Faulty Focus
Faulty Focus
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Here we are again with this family that the Lord loved and was loved by.
Jesus has several recorded actions with this family and of course, there is miraculous raising of the dead - of Lazarus - as we discussed this morning...
But as all good families, not everything was smooth sailing… It wasn’t as pretty behind the scenes as everyone would have assumed.
When you saw them at church - everything was perfect - every hair was in place - their church attire was very nice (not new but nice). If they had children, they would have been angels - never crying, screaming, running in church…
As I think about this family, I imagine the kind, gracious, spiritual family… 3 adult sibblings living together…
Their parents are not listed...
No spouses or children are accounted for...
Some believe that Martha was a widow and that she went to live with Lazarus and Mary, or that Mary and Lazarus came to live with her - I believe that the latter is the case -
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
It is referred to as Martha’s house, and if it was Martha’s house - it was Martha’s kitchen...
there’s only room for 1 cook in the kitchen…
This is all conjecture - but regardless this was a real family with real life pressures in life.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Nine: What in the World Does a Christian Do? (Luke 10)
Mary and Martha are often contrasted as though each believer must make a choice: be a worker like Martha or a worshiper like Mary. Certainly our personalities and gifts are different, but that does not mean that the Christian life is an either/or situation.
But we can observe and learn some lessons from this family (since we have an inside scoop into their home)
Faulty Focus
Faulty Focus
Focus on Self
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Cumbered about
Much serving
Martha was a busy bee...
She was doing “the work of the ministry”
In her service, she noticed she was ALONE...
We need to be mindful about several things in this passage, because Martha’s service for the Savior and those around her was a good service...
it is easy for those who sit to criticize those who serve...
We need to make sure that we are thankful for those who are serving...
A kind word
A note
A word of praise and encouragement...
“I just want you to know that we notice all the hard work you do… and I want you to know how much we love and appreciate you...”
Thanking, praising and encouraging someone is not going to cause them to “lose their reward”
But here we do find Martha with her focus on her own weariness
When we start magnifying our own self in our our own eyes - that’s a flag… something’s not quite right...
Faulty Focus is when our:
Focus on Self
Focus on Sister
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Her focus went from herself to her sister...
Oh… how easy it is to tear someone else down...
Criticize, critique another… even one who you love dearly...
When we begin to focus on others:
Their posture
sitting / standing
laboring / learning
what they are doing...
We will not give an account for what someone else does, or does not do…
12 So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Their position
pride and envy are usually the source’s of criticism
We should be in that position
We should be in a recognized position
title
title’s are deceptive… a title won’t change who you and I are...
Having a different title won’t make you more spiritual, it won’t make you more effective, it won’t make you more fulfilled...
When our focus is on self...
Their purposes
What they are doing...
You and I can’t do everything...
When our focus is on Sister… others… we begin judging what they are doing...
Their praise
We want the praise...
we want their praise...
Faulty Focus is when our:
Focus on Self
Focus on Sister
Focus on Satisfaction
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Martha’s mission was service...
Martha’s method’s was hospitality
Martha’s Mentality was…
her success was based on what gave her satisfaction...
When our Focus is filtered only through what gives me satisfaction and a sense of success, our focus is faulty...
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t find satisfaction in our service for the Savior- what I am saying, is that our satisfaction shouldn’t be the focus...
it’s not about you or I, it is about the Savior!
It is about fulfilling His desires
Meeting His needs
Serving Jesus is fulfilling - but focus on self satisfaction falls short...
Faulty Focus is when our:
Focus on Self
Focus on Sister
Focus on Satisfaction
Focus on the Savior
Mary’s focus on the Savior should motivate all of us...
She chose “that good part”...
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Can’t you hear the calming almost patronizing voice of the Savior...
Martha, Martha...
Martha’s service was not condemned, but Mary’s Focus was commended
Mary is mentioned 3 times in the Gospel’s
Her position was the same in all three instances
She sat at his feet and listened to His Word -
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
She fell at His feet and shared her Woe
32 Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
She came to His feet and poured out her Worship
3 Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.
In each of these situations - there is a fragrance:
Food - luke 10
Death - John 11
Perfume - John 12
The focus of Mary on the Savior is a focus that we all must have...
Before / during and after our service - we must make time for the Savior
We can quickly become:
irritated
frustrated
We can go from...
caring
concerned to
critical… and then complacent
We see here in this mirror of scripture some attributes and actions that are evident in our lives...
May we not have a faulty focus...
but a Faithful Focus