Spending time with someone, giving them your attention is the most precious act of love
/A reflection/
Luke 10: 38 - 41 (NIV)
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Part two
In part one some ideas about what dating someone is like were discussed and how similar approach can be used to develop a personal, intimate relationship with God. Part two is a reflection on the beautiful story of Jesus at the home of Martha, with her sister Mary. This is used to explain how Jesus places a high value on spending time in his presence.
38 b he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
This passage shows two scenarios common in our society today, but it starts by first stating the fact that Martha opened her home to Jesus. For Christ to enter our lives we must welcome him, open the door of our lives and heart to him. Like Mary you may have been provided access by association, but it is your attention to him that matters most. So, opening the door might not be enough as will be explored in the following verses.
39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
Mary choose to sit at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said, while Martha was outside (removed from where Jesus was) distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
Mary choose to spend time with Jesus, listening to what he had to say. It was a deliberate decision and it also shows how it meant she forfeited an alternative, something else that was important (but not important enough for it to matter) she ignored the option of making preparations that “had” to be made. It’s important to note she didn’t just pick some easy option.
She made a choice to not do the preparations or be distracted by them but be focused on listening at Jesus’ feet. Often times we must give up something else to spend time with God. We have to choose to spend time with God, like we choose to spend time with someone we love.
In practice this is more difficult in a world where everything is gunning for our time and attention. But we must plan, choose spending time with Jesus like Mary did. Like you would do with someone you are dating.
Martha on the other hand choose to do the activities of making preparations that had to be made. “Had to be made” stresses the importance and the unavoidability of the preparations that Martha was up to. Both Martha and Mary made a choice and it was a choice that I assume wasn’t easy. Even more interesting is the fact that these preparations that Martha was making was because of Jesus’ visit to her house. It was about Jesus and for Jesus. But it was a misplaced priority as he explains in the following verses.
40 b She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Martha was being overly concerned about the preparations and the fact that her sister wasn’t helping her but has chosen to “just sit” down, listening to Jesus, so she complained to Jesus. It’s interesting to see how unaware Martha was that she is the one who has chosen the least important thing.
Jesus’ answer and the tone in which he did is intriguing.
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus told Martha that only one thing is needed, only one thing matters as much and Mary has chosen that; spending time at my feet, spending time with me to be like me, to know me. To be known by me.
Not just spending time on activities for me, not being carried away with doings and acts but spending time at my feet. And what’s even more, Mary has chosen the better option and I will not take that away from her.
If we spend time with God, if we Choose that, he will also protect us in that, to keep us more in his presence. One thing is that spending time with God does not make us lose time, it makes us spend our time in the only way that can double speed.
You can find part one of this post here
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Nice piece here bro
Thanks a lot man.