July 18, 2010
Pentecost 8 – Proper 11
Luke 10:38-42
Mary & Martha have Jesus for a meal in their home
The church today has too many Martha’s and too few Mary’s. We would rather be busy about church activities – suppers, programs, projects, building concerns, teas, bazaars, parties – then about spiritual concerns – prayer, worship, solitude, meditation, study, and reflection. As a result, we are a do-good society instead of a redemptive community. We skip on the surface without the depth of spirituality. We have engaged in social action, social causes, civil rights but we have run out of steam because we have neglected worship, prayer, and study. The Gospel for this day contrasts two women – one foolish for neglecting to learn from Jesus for the sake of physical food preparation; one is wise to neglect getting a meal for the sake of getting fed spiritually.
In our text we see:
1. Martha’s lack of wisdom – Vv. 40-42
A. Foolish to complain to Jesus about Mary. 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!"v.40
1. Martha was not a bad woman. She wasn’t a slacker or delinquent. She was a close friend of Jesus. She loved Him. She was an energetic worker for the kingdom.
2. She was active. In fact, that’s what was wrong with her she was too active. But if she were present in the congregation today, we wouldn’t hesitate a minute about calling her a good church member. She was good but she lacked wisdom and true insight.
B. Foolish to have her values confused. “Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,” v. 41
1. Martha was working for a good cause. She simply meant to serve the Lord. If the Lord wanted activity she was giving it. So sure was Martha she that she was doing the right thing that she asked Jesus to send Mary into the kitchen.
2. And what did Jesus do? He scolded her for her activity and praises the inactivity Mary. It was an unexpected turn of events. Martha was right in her serving but she became distracted in believing that activity for activities sake was necessary. The good of hearing God’s Word is better than the good of serving God. Project and meditation – both are good – but meditation is better. Committee work and worship – both are good – but worship is better. Activity to work for the Lord and passively to receive His Word – both are good – but given a choice, it is better that the Christian be passively listening to the voice of the Savior.
C. Foolish to miss the better things of life. “…only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." v. 42
1. It is ideal to work and worship, to labor and listen, to serve and be served. That’s the ideal. That’s the way it should be.
2. But choosing between the two - worship is more important than the work, the listening more essential then the laboring and the being served is more blessed than the serving. Should a conflict between these two good things, serving the Lord and hearing His Word, the Christian, like Mary, chooses the good part and sits at Jesus feet.
2. Mary’s wisdom – Vv. 39, 42
A. Seized the opportunity to confer with Jesus.
1. There is so much in life which can tire us. We work long hours at our jobs. And in these trying and uncertain economic times many are called to work harder and smarter then before. Such effort can tire and exhaust us wearing us out draining our energy.
2. To be energized and refreshed we drink deep from the “still waters” of which our Good Shepherd Jesus leads us. We are strengthened from His Word and His meal as He increases our faith building us up in the faith as He speaks to us from His Word.
B. Listened and learned. “She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.” v. 39
1. Mary chooses the good part and sits at the Savior’s feet. She thinks little of herself and more of Him. She walks away from the distractions of life and is able to focus on Him who has the words of eternal life.
2. You can’t do anything that is good unless you first get God and the only was for you to get God is to receive Him as He comes to you through His Word. In those places where He comes to you; Word, Water, Wafer, Wine then you are strengthened in him.
C. Sense of true value: “Mary has chosen the good part” –v.42
1. You can’t serve the Lord unless He first serves you. You can’t actually do good things unless the good Lord first comes into you through His Word and manufactures those good things. You can’t be a fruit-producing branch unless you’re first connected with the Vine.
2. You can’t really be a Martha serving in the kitchen unless your first are a Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet. In the Christian life there can be no output without input.
A person can do what seems like good things without the Savior’s help. Our world is filled with hustles and bustlers engaged in many a good cause. But without Christ’s help their motives are all wrong and their methods are all wrong. We need to remember that God doesn’t simply want us to do god things; He is even more concerned that we let Him do them in us.
Pentecost 8 – Proper 11
Luke 10:38-42
Mary & Martha have Jesus for a meal in their home
The church today has too many Martha’s and too few Mary’s. We would rather be busy about church activities – suppers, programs, projects, building concerns, teas, bazaars, parties – then about spiritual concerns – prayer, worship, solitude, meditation, study, and reflection. As a result, we are a do-good society instead of a redemptive community. We skip on the surface without the depth of spirituality. We have engaged in social action, social causes, civil rights but we have run out of steam because we have neglected worship, prayer, and study. The Gospel for this day contrasts two women – one foolish for neglecting to learn from Jesus for the sake of physical food preparation; one is wise to neglect getting a meal for the sake of getting fed spiritually.
In our text we see:
1. Martha’s lack of wisdom – Vv. 40-42
A. Foolish to complain to Jesus about Mary. 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!"v.40
1. Martha was not a bad woman. She wasn’t a slacker or delinquent. She was a close friend of Jesus. She loved Him. She was an energetic worker for the kingdom.
2. She was active. In fact, that’s what was wrong with her she was too active. But if she were present in the congregation today, we wouldn’t hesitate a minute about calling her a good church member. She was good but she lacked wisdom and true insight.
B. Foolish to have her values confused. “Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,” v. 41
1. Martha was working for a good cause. She simply meant to serve the Lord. If the Lord wanted activity she was giving it. So sure was Martha she that she was doing the right thing that she asked Jesus to send Mary into the kitchen.
2. And what did Jesus do? He scolded her for her activity and praises the inactivity Mary. It was an unexpected turn of events. Martha was right in her serving but she became distracted in believing that activity for activities sake was necessary. The good of hearing God’s Word is better than the good of serving God. Project and meditation – both are good – but meditation is better. Committee work and worship – both are good – but worship is better. Activity to work for the Lord and passively to receive His Word – both are good – but given a choice, it is better that the Christian be passively listening to the voice of the Savior.
C. Foolish to miss the better things of life. “…only one thing is needed.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." v. 42
1. It is ideal to work and worship, to labor and listen, to serve and be served. That’s the ideal. That’s the way it should be.
2. But choosing between the two - worship is more important than the work, the listening more essential then the laboring and the being served is more blessed than the serving. Should a conflict between these two good things, serving the Lord and hearing His Word, the Christian, like Mary, chooses the good part and sits at Jesus feet.
2. Mary’s wisdom – Vv. 39, 42
A. Seized the opportunity to confer with Jesus.
1. There is so much in life which can tire us. We work long hours at our jobs. And in these trying and uncertain economic times many are called to work harder and smarter then before. Such effort can tire and exhaust us wearing us out draining our energy.
2. To be energized and refreshed we drink deep from the “still waters” of which our Good Shepherd Jesus leads us. We are strengthened from His Word and His meal as He increases our faith building us up in the faith as He speaks to us from His Word.
B. Listened and learned. “She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.” v. 39
1. Mary chooses the good part and sits at the Savior’s feet. She thinks little of herself and more of Him. She walks away from the distractions of life and is able to focus on Him who has the words of eternal life.
2. You can’t do anything that is good unless you first get God and the only was for you to get God is to receive Him as He comes to you through His Word. In those places where He comes to you; Word, Water, Wafer, Wine then you are strengthened in him.
C. Sense of true value: “Mary has chosen the good part” –v.42
1. You can’t serve the Lord unless He first serves you. You can’t actually do good things unless the good Lord first comes into you through His Word and manufactures those good things. You can’t be a fruit-producing branch unless you’re first connected with the Vine.
2. You can’t really be a Martha serving in the kitchen unless your first are a Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet. In the Christian life there can be no output without input.
A person can do what seems like good things without the Savior’s help. Our world is filled with hustles and bustlers engaged in many a good cause. But without Christ’s help their motives are all wrong and their methods are all wrong. We need to remember that God doesn’t simply want us to do god things; He is even more concerned that we let Him do them in us.
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