38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 ”Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
Are you ever distracted by all the preparations that need to be made? Me too. This world offers us hundreds of distractions each day. Things that we must do, ought to do, have to do. But in the end much of our business is not productive in the eternal realm. One of the foundational verses of the simple Christian life is John 15:5. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. “Like you I want to push back against the words of Jesus and point to all I’m doing to prove that I’m bearing fruit. But fruit bearing doesn’t come from working; it comes for resting; remaining in Christ. He is the vine we are the branches. Our job is to support and hold the fruit that he bears through us. I know it all sounds so mystical. So we ask what does this mean practically how does this look when I have work to do, kids the raise, and “ministry” to perform? After all; in all of these I’m serving Jesus, right? Maybe? All I know is that in the story Jesus commends Mary because she has “chosen what is better”. Notice it was an act of her will; she chose it and secondly Jesus didn’t tell Martha her work was bad, but Mary’s, it was better.
It is much better to connect with Christ that to work for Christ. Our work for Christ can turn us in the Legalist and Pharisees, but his work in us turns us into his children. Paul would later write, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6 (NIV) See it’s his work in us that makes us valuable not, our work for him. Yes we’re created in Christ Jesus for good works (Eph 2:10), but that is the caboose. The train starts with his grace and the faith that draws us into fellowship with him (Eph 2:8-9). Stay connected to the vine. And if you are a Martha like me, STOP! Choose what is better; Spend time with the ONE GOD who is gentle and humble at heart (amazing). There……. You will find rest for your soul (Matthew 11:29)
Awesome, I needed that. Get way to busy with things that are not important. Get way to busy with things that are important, but not as important that time with our Savior.