As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand." The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her." Luke 10:38-42, The Message
Pop Quiz!
Mary indicated her value of:
a. getting preparations for the meal
b. owning material possessions
c. having a good time of entertainment
d. spending time with Christ
We all have the same amount of time in a given day... it’s how we learn to manage ourselves that makes all the difference.
Time. It’s a witness to the world. God says to live wisely. Time is gone quickly! Lost, yesterday, somewhere between sunrise and sunset, two golden hours, each set with sixty diamond minutes. No reward is offered for they are gone forever. ~Horace Mann “Make what you do today important because you’re exchanging a day of your life for it”
First key: humility! Only God can complete His to-do list! We are not God. We can not do it all. Humble yourself and cry out to God for His grace and strength. Make it your goal to do all that you can, when you can (Mark 14:8), ultimately leaving all in God’s hands and trusting Him for the things we can’t get done. Remember that the Lord never requires of you what He does not give you the resources and stamina to accomplish. Remember the promise of Romans 8:28 (there are benefits to everything that happens!). So pray about your life and what fills your day- Phil. 4:6.
Jesus is not so much condemning Martha's activity as commending Mary's. He is saying that her priorities are in order. To disciples Jesus says, "Sit at my feet and devour my teaching. There is no more important meal."
Priorities: 1.)God! -delight in the Lord. Seek Him first (Matt. 6:33). what are your goals, spiritually? how can you be more effective? what do you want to happen in your life before age____? what are the time wasters in your life? Questions: will this benefit God’s kingdom? will it make me more Godly? will I grow closer to God? will I still have time for God? will my involvement in this make any difference 10 years from now or in eternity? Our destinies are determined by our choices! 2.) Authority, education, ministry, vocation -keep under your parents authority (Eph. 6:1)...
Pop Quiz!
Finding God’s will for your life will in large measure be determined by:
a. how much you read the Bible
b. the unusual providential circumstances that come into your life
c. how skillful you are at establishing goals and objectives
d. your wisdom in making daily decisions with Christ as your guide
Ephesians 5:15-16 Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise (sensible, intelligent people), Making the very most of the time [buying up each opportunity], because the days are evil.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 Make it your ambition and definitely endeavor to live quietly and peacefully, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we charged you, So that you may bear yourselves becomingly and be correct and honorable and command the respect of the outside world, being dependent on nobody [self-supporting] and having need of nothing.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom.
think about this: be like Jesus, depart. “Now when it was day, He departed” (Luke 4:42). get away. think. ponder. He determined the time, selected a place. “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). Follow the example of Jesus, who “often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16). “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31)
He who runs from God in the morning will scarcely find Him the rest of the day - John Bunyan.
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