Luke 10:38-42 NLT
38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Mary and Martha both loved Jesus. Martha had a religious moment that many of us have found ourselves in. She thought that her form of serving was superior to her sisters.
To often I’ve witnessed believers loose their focus, preoccupied with serving the church, cleaning, stacking chairs, handing out pamphlets, shaking hands, smiling, signing up for outreach, leading a community group, feeding the homeless, all good things. But so quickly good things become religious things. Martha’s work kept her from realizing that the Son of God was sitting in her living room!
Jesus warns the church in Ephesus that activity does not save us, even good activity with a forgetful heart will ruin us and lead us to evil.
Revelation 2:1–7 (NLT) | The Message to the Church in Ephesus
1 “Write this letter to the angel* of the church in Ephesus. This is the message from the one who holds the seven stars in his right hand, the one who walks among the seven gold lampstands: 2 “I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. 3 You have patiently suffered for me without quitting. 4 “But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first!* 5 Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. 6 But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do. 7 “Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Jesus is the point! He must be the at center! He is King! Nothing, not even service should take his place of centrality. Even in loving each other, if he is not the center, than it is not true love, but slipper, sneaky, idolatry.
Serve Jesus by being with him, not because he is lonely but because he is the empowerment of your work. Anything good work not done through the right heart of love is just religious minutia that leads us away from Christ. To know and love him is to know and serve people, but he knows what man really needs, we know only the insecurities that we bow to in our service rather than sitting and resting in him.
So we must be with Jesus, find ourselves in him not our service. BEING NOT DOING is the response of the believer to our Savior.
Lord, help us know the balance of these things. Help us understand the heart of who you are and let us be in your image not attempt to do your image. Forgive us! You are enough!
