MAY 18 

Luke 10:38-42
Memorise Luke 10:40
“…to obey is better than sacrifice…”

Recently, I was given the privilege of serving on the camp committee at a youth camp. Before as well as during camp, there were so many countless things to take care of. Rather than looking forward to camp, I found myself starting to dread it because of the many tasks that I would have to handle during camp. This account in today’s reading came to mind, though, and I was reminded that, while I was at camp to serve, I was at camp to learn from God’s Word, too. Rather than being caught up in all the duties and tasks, I should also focus on the messages and make sure that I myself would benefit and be fed spiritually. 

In today’s passage, we read of 2 sisters, Martha and Mary, who had the great privilege of having Jesus as a guest at their house. While Mary “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word” (verse 39), Martha was “cumbered about much serving” (verse 40). The word “cumbered” here has the idea of being distracted by cares and worries. In her bid to be a good hostess to Jesus and to serve Him well, she neglected to pay attention to that one needful thing (verse 41) – that is to feed herself spiritually from the Word of God. Though it should be a great joy to play host to Jesus and to serve Him, she became “careful and troubled” – anxious, worried and disturbed by the many physical tasks and preparations she had before her. 

Dear teen, have you been a Martha? While service is definitely important and something that every Christian should be involved in (as we have learnt over the past couple of days), it should not be at the expense of our own spiritual health. Perhaps if you are serving in the Sunday School ministry, you may have to miss the sermon at the morning worship service once a month; but you definitely should not be skipping it every week! For if you are not spiritually fed, how then can you feed others? Similarly, while you might have to spend time during the week preparing lessons, this does not mean that you miss out on your own personal Quiet Time with God! Dear teen, may you never become so cumbered about with serving, that you miss out on that one needful thing. 

Thought: Service should never be done at the expense of worship.
Prayer: Lord, help me never to neglect my walk with Thee.