(Live Up! series 9) "You're Doing too much!" - Luke 10.38-42

Luke 10:38 NRSV

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

Luke 10:39 NRSV

She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.

Luke 10:40 NRSV

But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.”

Luke 10:41 NRSV

But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things;

Luke 10:42 NRSV

there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Intro:

Freedom....

I thought I knew my way around the kitchen pretty well.....

I mean I can put a pretty good meal together when I get ready....

But, I just recently discovered that when seasoning our food for taste, that salt is specifically categorized as a flavor enhancer seperate from a compound seasoner.....

…so that means if you use a spice like garlic, or smoked paprika (my fav.)

....when you add the salt in with the spices it maximizes or enhances the flavor!

(pause)

And so....

.......Salt has “ONE” ingredient

......but still has enough impact to enhance an entire meal!

(pause and expound)

Today Freedom.....

I want to talk about the next Spiritual Formation Discipline called...

“Simplicity!”

.....because simplicity keeps us Focused.

....and because it keeps us focused it enhances our lives spiritually as we become transformed more like Christ!

(slight pause)

But Freedom.....

....the misconception is that many believe that Simplicity equates to boring and less attractive life.

.....and being lesser in impact

....we think if the simpler something is

....the more it decreases in importance

(slight pause)

However.....

Simplicity always leads to more Focus, and addtional Impact!

(slight pause)

And we see several places in God’s Word where “Simplicity” brings focus into the lives of those God uses to make major impact.

Abraham left his home, wealth, and friends for new land because he “Focused” on an unforseen Kingdom.

Joseph had the strength to endure significant hardships because his dreams simplified or brought “Focus” to him on the greatness of God.

Paul gave up everything and said, ...........“This ONE thing I do!”

(Expound)

And......

......I don’t know who I’m preaching to but,

.....It’s time to get “Focused!”

(pause and transition)

Luke 10:38 NRSV

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home.

According to the text.....

Martha opens her home to Jesus, and the disciples.....

.....and she is paying careful attention to every accomodation for her special guests.

She has pulled out her “Bernard - aud” platters, trimmed in gold....

She has straightened up the house, and laid out her "Tory Burch” tablecloths....

The aroma of spices, have infused the house from the front door to the kitchen like Grandmama’s oxtails and collard greens......red beans and rice.........with cabbage and Macaroni and cheese on the side.......

(pause and slight expound)

And the text says....

As she is diligently preparing multiple tasks,

........her sister Mary in verse 39 is sitting with Jesus.

(pause)

Look at it....

Luke 10:39 NRSV

She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.

Freedom....

I would imagine that Jesus is telling a story.....

....and every adjective, and each noun is catapulted on syllables that remember miracles that have built up weaknesses!

I would imagine also that somewhere where Jesus is sitting someone has a question.....

....and in His divine Omnisicience, Jesus is illustrating Kindom principles and concepts

....that relate to Jewish culture and history that speaks practically towards a Gospel destiny!

(pause)

And......

.....somewhere between the conversation

.......Mary decided that the best place for her to be was right here sitting next to Jesus!

(pause)

And according to verse 40......in my Spiritual imagination.....

Martha turns around in the kitchen......

.....and wipes her hands on her apron

....and looks over towards Jesus and the other guests

.....and to her surprise she now notices that her sister Mary is nonchalauntly sitting over next to Jesus on “Chill mode”

(pause with optional expound)

And according to the text.....

“Martha is distracted by her many tasks”

Freedom watch this.....

......because the Greek word for distracted here in the text is the word

“Overburdened”

(pause)

Freedom.....

You will never be able to “Live Out!”

.......the way you are designed to

....when we are distracted or overburdened!

(pause)

And the incredible realization here in the text is that......

Martha’s distraction is hogtied or connected directly to what she is doing.....

Because the text says.....

......She is distracted by her many tasks!

(pause)

Freedom can I break down these scenarios of “Overburden experience”

Because I need us to see how this works........

Here’s how this works family....

Distractions are not usually Core Disrupters

....and what I mean by that is that the origin of our distractions don’t typically start from within us.

Distractions are normally out on the exterior areas of life attempting to create burdens that ripple their way inward toward our Being!

But they can’t become internal unless we lose control and balance......

.....in our Being and our Doing!

(pause)

And watch this because......

We don’t become our own distractions until what we are Doing....

....has taken complete control of our focus

....and we are no longer growing in our Being!

(pause)

It don’t ever feel like its too much.......

Until what we are Doing is greater than our Being!

(slight pause)

And that’s when our ATTITUDES start changing.......

and that’s when we began getting INTERNALLY distracted......

(slight pause)

Because.......

......the distractions that were on the peripheral

have now began eating us alive on the inside!

(pause)

And we are so focused on what we are doing......

.....that we forget to be loving

......that we forget what’s most important

(pause)

And that’s what happened to Martha!

She started out with this incredibly awesome idea of hosting Jesus and the disciples......

......to come into her home to experience great hospitality..

But now because of distractions.....

She is looking cross eyed......

......like she’s ready to bite Mary’s entire head off!

(pause)

“Oh you just gonna sit there........

......and look at me DOING all of this work

......and aint gonna do NOTHING to help me

.....get things ready!”

“Mary.......

......I ought to slap the taste out your mouth!”

(longer pause)

And Jesus I got a question for you too........

“It don’t bother you.......

......you aint concerned

.....that I’m over here doing all of this work

......and Mary is just sitting there beside you on the couch!”

(pause)

Jesus......

You need to tell her to get up off her behind......

.....and get over here and help me with what I’m DOING!

(pause)

Optional:

I don’t know if you can hear Martha.........

.....But I can hear Martha giving Mary everything she got in this moment!

(pause and shift)

But here’s what I want to deal with.......

Because in verse 41 I see Jesus responding in my spiritual imagination....

Saying,

“Martha, you’re doing too much!”

(pause)

Now Freedom here’s the thing.....

It’s not that Martha is doing a wrong thing......

....but the issue is on her doing what is better

vs. what is good!

(pause)

And.......

.....if what you are doing is affecting your attitude

(slight pause)

“.......you’re doing too much!”

And that means.....

.....Your focus needs to shift into a balance where you are prioritizing who you are being

......just as much as we are focusing on what we are doing!

(pause)

Freedom....

....Jesus don’t really care about her activity

....as much as he is concerned with her attitude!

(pause)

Because Jesus understands.....

…that at the end of the day.....

“We will never Out do.......who we are!”

(pause)

And so Jesus goes on to tell Martha.....

“You are worried and troubled about many things!”

Meaning.....

You are anxious and agitated over all of the details!

(slight pause)

And the results of Martha’s distractions.....

.....is disrupting what was supposed to be a breathtaking moment of hospitality at her house!

(pause)

But whenever we fail......

......to be transformed through the discipline of simplicity

......our distractions become malformed into complex problems

(slight pause)

And so......

Instead of Doing ONE thing well.....

.......we freak out over everything!

(pause and expound)

And now all of a sudden just like Martha......

We get so frustrated........

We start attacking our closest relationships......

(Spouses, Siblings, etc.....)

We start second guessing the sincerity of those who have always had our back.......

“Martha actually had the unmitigated gall to ask Jesus if he was concerned about what she was doing!”

(slight pause)

And this is how crazy we start sounding........

......when we have over complicated living

.....by focusing more on Doing than Being

Why you acting like that

Why aint nobody helping me

Jesus you aint concerned about me

Why she looking at me funny

Who told him he was all that

(slight pause)

But look at somebody and holler........

“You’re DOING too much!”

(pause)

Watch what Jesus says in verse 42.......

Jesus says to Martha.....

“But ONE thing is needed!”

(pause)

And what Jesus is doing here is.....

....teaching Martha the art of this spiritual formation discipline of “Simplicity”

(slight pause)

In other words....

Martha.....

I need you to shift from focusing on

“Doing before Being”

to.......

“Being before Doing”

(pause)

Because......

....you will never “Live Out” effectively if you don’t begin pritorizing

....your Being over what you are Doing!

(pause)

And....

....just like Martha

When we “OutDo” who we are “Becoming”” is the exact place in our lives when we get distracted!

(pause)

And then Jesus says.....

“Mary has chosen the better part!”

Look at it.....

Mary has chosen:

A. Sitting at Jesus’s feet (v.39)

B.Listening to God’s Word (v.39)

C. Prioritizing her Being before her Doing (v42)

Notice the Creshendo of sensibility in her actions.......

And the awesome thing about operating in “Simplicity” is that it builds:

Trust

Focus

Consistency

Great Habits

(pause)

And as I was looking at this.....

God dropped 4 things in my spirit that I want to share with you and then I’m out of here.....

Because when we start operating in “Simplicity”.....

...... we have to make a decision about what will no longer be able to distract us.

(slight pause)

And so the first thing God gave me was......

I will not be distracted by trying to OVERDO what God doesn’t even desire of me.

We spend too much energy on stuff that God don’t even like.

(expound)

2. I will not let my distractions speak for me!

Agitation and anxiety can not be allowed to have your voice.

.....we don’t even sound right when we allow burdens to speak for us as believers!

(expound)

3. I will not allow distractions to bring conflict into my relationships.

Check the character before you start comparisons

.........Comparisons will never get you closer to your goal of Being who God has designed

4. I will not miss another growth opportunity because of distractions.

When the focus is on growth, you will never Do something that is not a contributer to value.

(pause)

And at the end of the day......

I don’t know how you feel about it Freedom.....

.....but my soul is too important to not be focused!

(pause)

And....

....we can not pour out

.....what we have not been focused on putting in!

(slight pause)

That’s why Jesus says.....

“Mary has chosen the better part!

......and it will not be taken away from her!”

(pause)

Here it is.......

Because Mary has figured out.....

Martha I promise you.......

.....If I sit with Jesus now

.....I will be a better sister to you later!

(pause and expound on “Being Better!”)

And Mary has figured out......

I value what God is saying.......

....more than what I’m doing!

(pause)

And......

.....whenever we operate in “SIMPLICITY”

........placing our focus on God and God’s Word for our lives

(pause)

We will never.......

.....weaken in power as a result of our focus!

(pause)

But.....

......everytime we give up what’s getting in the way!

God......

.....turns up the extraordinary!

(pause)

Everytime we choose the BETTER PART!

God says.......

“I will not let it be taken away from them!”

(pause)

I’m starting to feel it right here.......

.......because I hear God saying,

“When you choose me........

.........you choose Victory!”

(pause)

“When you ZERO IN..........

.......on the ONE thing that is necessary!”

(pause)

When we are Faithful over a FEW things......

God says.....

I will make you ruler over MANY!

(pause)

And.......

.......that’s why David said.......

“I’ve been young......

.....and now I’m old

.....and I have never seen the righteous forsaken

....or his seed begging for bread!”

(slight pause)

And that’s because.......

God will never take away the opportunity for us to experience more in Him........

.......when we choose Him!

(pause)

And.......

......when we choose the “BETTER PART!”

.....it shows God who we are SEEKING over everything else!

(pause)

That’s why Matthew’s Gospel teaches us....

Matthew 6:33 NRSV

But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Strive First........for the Kingdom of God

.......Simplify your search to go after “ONE THING!”

(pause)

And God says.......

Once I see what you’re trying to “GO AFTER!”

.....once I see you aint trying to “DO too much!”

(pause)

Because......

......you are Maturing in the discipline of operating in “SIMPLICITY!”

(pause)

Here it is.........

I’m not going to TAKE IT AWAY from you..........

(slight pause)

But instead........

......I’m going to GIVE all these things to you as well!

(pause)

Now I wonder if I got anybody that will declare.....

“Im done......

trying to DO TOO MUCH!”