AUG 14

Luke 10:38-42
Memorise 1 Samuel 15:22
“…Mary… sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word”

Today’s title is especially relevant to the spiritual climate at present. Luke 10:38-42 gives an account of Jesus who pays a visit to Martha and Mary. Martha is described as being “cumbered about much serving”. This is to say that Martha was busy with the non-essential formalities and niceties in Jesus’ presence. Furthermore, Martha was displeased with Mary who sat with Jesus and did not offer any help. Obviously, Martha thought that Mary should have made herself busy and even went so far to suggest that Jesus should have done something about Mary’s apparent negligence.

Jesus responded by saying that Martha was too concerned over those things which were superficial and irrelevant to Him. Furthermore, Mary’s conduct actually pleased Him as she was giving Him that which was most important-her undivided attention to Him. She sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His Word (Luke 10:39).

Here, it is a discussion of priority and of the things that Jesus really values. Oftentimes, because we are living in a physical world which places a great value on material things, those things become our priority as well. In churches, we sometimes place too much emphasis on just the material aspects of growth at the expense of spiritual faithfulness. This would be something that Jesus would disapprove of. This is a very real problem that the Christian world is facing today with many churches being so caught up with numbers, physical and financial expansion with little regard for the faithful and accurate proclamation of God’s Word. They pride themselves on all that they have accomplished, but in so doing, they forget to sit at Jesus’ feet, and focus on that which is most important.

On a more personal level, could we also be guilty of the same by being “cumbered about much serving” when we get too caught up with the administrative concerns of various “spiritual activities” so much so that we forget the real purpose of engaging in them in the first place - for the love of Jesus and His Word?

Thought: Being cumbered about much serving is like being too absorbed in the planning of a holiday to really enjoy it.
Prayer: O Lord, enable me to always give You that which You desire most from me - my obedience and undivided attention.