Priority Check

A couple going on vacation, standing in line waiting to check their bags at the airline counter. 

The husband said to the wife, "I wish we had brought the piano." The wife said, "Why? We've got sixteen bags already!" The husband said, "Yes, I know-- but the tickets are on the piano!" 

Sometimes we are so caught up with the secondary that we missed out on the primary. All of us sometimes comes across such circumstances. Yes or not?

This week have been so distracting to me even as pastor asked me to share this week. So many things come to distract us front the primary things.

We forget the priorities of our life among the secondary things.  The primary thing, is neglected. We can be taking care of our house, but not building a home. We can be living with our spouse, but not cultivating a marriage. I can serve faithfully at church, but not truly be serving the Lord. I can sing Christian songs and not really be worshipping. It can also be hard to distinguish between opportunities and distractions. 

This morning we are going to learn on the one thing that is needed of us – the one main priority in a Christian walk. We want to look at some nuggets of truth that the bible can show us.

Luke 10:38-42
Martha and Mary
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

This is the story of Jesus visiting the home of Mary and Martha. Jesus had three friends who lived in Bethany. He would occasionally stay in their home when He was in Judea. Lazarus, Mary and Martha were brother and sisters. We are not sure which is the older but bible scholars thinks its Martha that owns the house.

Luke doesn't tell us the name of the village, since it isn't important to his point, though from John's Gospel we know it is Bethany, just east of Jerusalem. Bethany was located on the Eastern slope of the Mount of Olives on the road linking Jerusalem to Jericho. It was about two miles from Jerusalem, or about a half hour's walk. 

It would have been a very convenient place for Jesus and His fellow Galileans to stay when visiting Jerusalem for a feast day or on some other occasion.

Interestingly, Luke puts this whole accounts after the parable of the Good Samaritan. 

There are three passages of Scripture that mention about Martha & Mary. 

They are LUKE 10:38-42 when Jesus taught in her home while she busied herself preparing food for her guests; 

JOHN 11:1-44 when Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead

JOHN 12:2 when Jesus visited her home just six days before His crucifixion. We find her busy again preparing food while her sister Mary anoints Jesus' feet with costly perfume.

Martha – Distracted Priority

I believe Martha has a distracted priority. But Martha has a heart of hospitality. There is nothing wrong with being hospitable. 

Martha was given to hospitality (vs. 38). 

Luke recorded the following:

- She opened her home. 

- She prepared. (vs. 40) 

- Later we see her serving again. (John 12:2) 

"Martha opened her home to him." The verb is Greek hupodechomai, "receive, welcome, entertain as a guest." 

The same word is used when Zacchaeus invites Jesus into his home in Jericho (19:6), 

Rahab the harlot welcomes the Hebrew spies into her house in Jericho (James 2:25)

There is nothing wrong with Hospitality. Hospitality is a trait that is commended in scripture:

Rom 12:13 (KJV) Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 

1 Tim 3:2 (KJV) A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach; 

1 Tim 5:10 (KJV) Well reported for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 

1 Pet 4:9 (KJV) Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 

In my younger days when a guest come to our home my dad will tell my mum to cook a meal. Today it's easier, we just call Domino's Pizza. Nowadays we don't cook that much, just drinks maybe. Mary opened her home to Jesus. Mary and Martha are believers of Jesus of Nazareth. They are believers so this message is for believers.

Open your home means inviting Jesus into your home. To have fellowship in your house. Hospitality is commended in the bible. But church, hospitality should not distract us from the Lord. Our ministry, our service, our job should not distract us from setting the RIGHT Priority. She was so busy she had no time to listen to Jesus.

What, then, was wrong with Martha's actions?

Martha was too busy serving to listen to Jesus. Luke use the word distracted to describe her issue.

John Wesley in Wesley’s Notes said this on “distracted” (Greek : perispao) - The Greek word properly signifies to be drawn different ways at the same time, and admirably expresses the situation of a mind, surrounded (as Martha's then was) with so many objects of care, that it hardly knows which to attend to first."

The word translated "distracted" is Greek perispao, "

1. 'be pulled or dragged away.' 

2. 'become or be distracted, quite busy, overburdened."

In her concern for the tasks at hand, she lost sight of who was in the room, and what he was saying.  

Martha is more concerned about entertaining her guest rather listen to "what Jesus has to say" (i.e. the Word of God).

Martha was busy preparing a big meal but she fails to realize there is a Savior who is able to multiply 5 loaves and 2 fishes to feed 5 thousand men (Luke 9:10-17)

Friends, today we might be in the same shoes too ……We are so busy serving the Lord that we fail to listen to Jesus? Should anything ever take precedence? 

Martha was so distracted she did not know that Jesus was in the the house to speak the words of life. How many of us are like Martha? We are serving in church, as cell leaders, board members etc that we forgot what is the number priority is walking with Jesus.

In her distraction, she tries to get her sister away from doing the right thing. She asked Jesus to tell the sister to come and help her. She tried to lead someone away from listening to Jesus. 

Quote: Robert E. Wenger :  “Many of us, like Martha, are activists who believe devotion to Christ is directly proportional to busyness. We involve ourselves in church activities to the point of distraction; then we become critical of those who are less involved. We even ask God to deepen their spirituality and increase their loyalty." 

Martha’s problem was that she failed to see the importance of spending time sitting at the feet of Jesus.  

Maybe Jesus didn't want a big meal, but rather a time of fellowship. 

Friends, Martha’s SERVICE was commendable, but her PRIORITY was wrong. 

Mary – Determined Priority

Lets look at Mary now. Mary had a determined priority. She knew what she had to do. 

The verb  “sat at the Lord’s feet” is Greek parakathizo, "sit down beside someone," but the rest of the sentence explains that she was actually sitting not directly beside him -- a place of honor -- but at his feet, a place of humility -- and probably attention. Figuratively, "at his feet" seems to have been the phrase connoting a disciple or learner. 

Similar like Paul at the feet of Gamaliel (Acts 22:2)

"Sitting at Christ's feet, signifies readiness to receive his word, and submission to the guidance of it."

Some of her actions that is recorded in Luke & John includes: 

- Hear his words (Luke 10:39) 

- Go to Him in times of need (John 11:32) 

- Worship Him openly and extravagantly. (John 12:3) 

Sitting at the feet shows readiness to submit and receive guidance from Jesus. It says Mary hears his word. This is not a one time affair. If you read other passages, you'll find Mary fell at the feet of Jesus. Three accounts altogether.

Mary knew how to ignore distractions. 

In Jesus’ time there was no reason for a woman to be sitting at a rabbi’s feet. Mary should have been helping Martha.

 In first century Jewish thought the women’s sphere was the home. A woman learned everything she would need to know to be a wife and mother and run a household. She was not required to learn the Torah or to engage in religious activity that would take her out of the home for an extended period of time. They are supposed to be a DO. Dapur Officer. She went beyond culture. 

Martha surely had complained to Mary many times before she got upset enough to approach Jesus about it, yet Mary could say no to her. 

Her actions in John 12 brought disapproval from the crowd. Yet she ignored the crowd and pleased the Lord. Like the perfume she used on Jesus' feet. Many said she is wasting the expensive perfume. Even Judas a follower of Jesus told Mary that she can sell it for much. The crowd came against her action. 

There are many things that might be distracting us from spending quality time with the Lord.

Media, Relationship, Our Work, Our Routine, Hobbies, Church/Religion

QUOTE: Sadhu Sundar Singh:  “Once I was sitting upon the shore of a lake. As I sat there I noticed some fish who came up to the surface and opened their mouths. At first I thought they were hungry and that they were looking for insects, but a fisherman told me afterwards that although they can breathe quite well under water they have to come up to the surface every now and again to inhale deep draughts of fresh air, or they would die. It is the same with us. The world is like an ocean; we can live in it, carry on our work and all our varied occupations, but from time to time we need to receive fresh life through prayer. Those Christians who do not set apart quiet times for prayer have not yet found their true life in Christ.”

Today there are a lot of cultures that are distracting us from Jesus. Culture of Korean shows. There are so many things distracting us Christians. The invention of smartphone distract us more and more. First thing we do in the morning we check our emails our messages our Facebook. I am guilty of that too.

Mary was almost distracted by the Jewish culture but she chose to spend time at the feet of Jesus. Mary was also ignoring the crowd. Like the perfume she used on Jesus' feet. Many said she is wasting the expensive perfume. Even Judas a follower of Jesus told Mary that she can sell it for much. The crowd came against her action.

That is what the crowd is saying to us today? So many draws us away from spending quality time with Jesus. Now is the fasting and praying period. How many of us is doing that? Or are we feasting and playing?

Mary learnt the secret of spending time at the feet of Jesus. We too need to learn to spend time at the feet of Jesus.

Jesus is looking for your precious time. He is not looking for your spare time. Too many times we offer our spare time to Jesus.

QUOTE: C.S. Lewis says, “When first things are put first, second things are not suppressed but increased…The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.”

Jesus said this, that one thing is needed and Mary has chosen the good part. There are choices and alternatives that we can take. But Mary made a conscious decision, she chose to sit at Jesus' feet. She chose to go against the culture, the critics.

People make choices. They are a part of life.

We have to make a choice as to whether we seek the good part. Jesus tells us our highest priority in life should be to Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Our daily choices affect our lives, and the end result of this life is determined by the choices we make every day. Jesus said Mary chose "that good part."

Will you make a choice to spend time at the feet of Jesus? It is time for Priority Check.

Is Jesus whispering your name, possibly even twice, today, to get your attention? He gently rebukes us and tells us to allow Him to put His arms around us and cut off the strings that attach us to “many things” and then invite us to come to His feet and find the one thing that is necessary.