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Dragged all Around

Dragged all Around

Words of Faith 8-9-18

Dr. Jeffrey D. Hoy © 2018

Jeff.Hoy@faithfellowshipweb.com

Faith Fellowship Church - Melbourne, FL

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Luke 10:38-42

   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 only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

 

         So what is this Scripture all about? Why didn't Mary get called into the kitchen? Why was Martha reprimanded? It is because Jesus is dealing with some very specific problems that can affect us all. After all the consideration of gifting and temperaments in ministry, at the bottom line Martha was distracted from the Lord. Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made (40).

       The problem was not that Martha was making preparations. It was that she was distracted by the preparations.   The Greek word translated "distracted" literally means to be "dragged all around.” Sometimes we get dragged all around be our desire to serve or our need to serve or even our attention to details. Sometimes we forget why we were doing all these things.

       If the devil can't get you to fall he will try to get you distracted he will try to drag you all around. Some of us will always be more attuned to the practical preparations and others to the spiritual focus but we must not miss that the reason we gather is for the Word. The purpose of our gathering is not to move chairs or to make meals. Those things are very important but they serve the goal and focus of study.

       The reason we gather is exactly what Mary was doing. Some scholars suggest that Martha may have been so panicked and distracted that she did not even greet Jesus. That is a sure sign that you have missed the point. Are you serving so faithfully that you have forgotten to pray?

     Jesus never said that what Martha was doing was of no importance or even of little importance. Serving is a focus that Jesus will lift up again and again. When Jesus got to the Last Supper the disciples were distracted by speculation about who will be the greatest to the point that they neglected a Martha like duty of hospitality-- the washing of feet. Jesus is certainly not against serving.   He just knew that Martha had missed the point of any gathering and that is to be in the presence of the Lord.

       Don't miss the reality that Marys can become distracted as well.   Marys can become so distracted by their spiritual pursuits that they miss the fact that there are jobs that needs to be done. There are people who need care and concern. We can easily become like the priest or the Levite who walked to the other side of the road when the wounds are crying out! James, the brother of Jesus pointed out that faith without works is dead. A genuine communion with God will always drive us back into the world to serve.