Sunday service, Michael Ngubane, 17 Jun 2018
Luke 10:38 – 42
38 And as they went, it happened that He entered into a certain village. And a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet [and] heard His word.
40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she came to Him and said, Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.
42 But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
This is an amazing story about two sisters in the same place and situation but acting in different ways.
The Lord Jesus arrived here with His disciples and they must have been exhausted from the travel. Martha, who was the owner of the house, did a commendable thing by inviting Jesus into her home. She was concerned about how she will receive and cater for such a company. But while they were there something entered into Martha’s heart and things wasn’t as it should be. Martha started criticising her sister and she approached the Lord Himself to tell Mary to help her.
Originally she did a good thing by inviting the Lord and His disciples. We are commanded to be hospitable, especially to those of the household of faith. But now we get this that she is losing the blessing she would have had by complaining. In Martha’s heart was turmoil. Eventually it got too much for her and she complained to the Lord.
Do you see what happens when things go wrong in your heart? Here was the Lord Jesus, the one who was the solution to her turmoil, but she was busy giving the devil place by feeding her bitterness and self pity. She couldn’t speak in a decent way to her sister anymore but went behind her back and complained to the Lord about her sister.
If you do something with complaining you lose out on the blessing that you would have received.
She had her program worked out, first the food and then talk. Very often our program is contrary to what the Lord had planned.
When the Lord saw her attitude he said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful, and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Martha was actually disturbing God’s message. That’s why the Lord had to correct her.
Maybe among us there are those who are busy and troubled with many things. Maybe you don’t even hear God’s word because you’re troubled about many things. You’re here but your heart is in the market place, full of noise.
Martha lost focus and forgot what the crux of the matter was.
Are you troubled about many things while missing the one thing that is necessary?
We find in the letters to the churches in Revelations that the Lord pointed out the one thing He was unhappy about. They had many good things, but had to deal with that one thing or lose God’s blessing.
We must deal with that one thing God points out in our life that displeases Him or that thing will destroy much good things in our life. Maybe in your case it’s not even one thing but many sins separating you from God.
We also don’t find the Lord Jesus excusing Martha because of all the good she had done.
In life there are choices to make. What have you chosen? Some make choices based on short term needs, like Esau who sold his birthright because he was hungry. Some just sell their bodies because of youthful lusts.
The Lord Jesus wants you to make the right decision, and when you’ve made the right decision keep to it that no one can take it away from you.
Choir
German Translation
French Translation