Good Morning Everyone,
Our theme for this month: “Busyness”
Our Bible verse for today: “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)
Our thought for today: “Good can be the enemy of best”
In our effort to understand how we end up becoming so busy, yesterday we began considering the story of Mary, Martha, and Jesus, as recorded in Luke 10:38-42. Jesus came for a visit. Mary sat down to enjoy His company, but Martha immediately began busying herself with chores. Mary and Jesus were in the living room talking and laughing. Martha was in the kitchen banging pots and pans. Soon Martha began resenting her busyness while others were relaxing, and she said so. In today’s passage we read Jesus’ response.
Please note that Jesus did not say that there was anything wrong or bad about cooking a meal and serving your friends. Those things are good when they are done at the proper time and with the proper attitude. In His response to Mary, Jesus simply pointed out that as nice as it was for her to want to prepare a meal for them, sitting quietly with Him and enjoying His presence would be a better use of her time at that moment. Preparing and serving is good, but not if it sours your disposition, creates anxiety, and causes resentment. It also isn’t good if it’s taking you away from something better.
The same is true of so many other things that we fill our lives up with. Working hard and earning a living to support yourself and your family is good, but becoming a workaholic is not good. Hobbies and recreational activities are good, but not if they get in the way of more important things. Sometimes our priorities get a little skewed and something that may be good and is therefore ok in and of itself, begins to get in the way of things that are more important and better.
As a Pastor I’ve spent a lot of time with people who were dying. During those hours sitting at bedsides listening to them talk, I’ve often heard dying people say they wished they had spent more time with their family, or done a better job of taking care of their health, or spent more time involved in ministry activities. But I’ve never heard anyone say they wished they had spent more time at work.
What activities is your life filled up with? And are those activities getting in the way of things that are more important? It’s a compelling and convicting question that deserves some prayerful consideration. Sometimes “good” becomes the enemy of “best”.
God Bless,
Pastor Jim
Oak Hill Baptist Church 