Choosing Devotion Over Busyness: The Martha and Mary Story

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound story of Martha and Mary from Luke 10:38-42, a narrative that challenges our understanding of busyness and devotion. As we navigate a world that equates significance with packed schedules, it's crucial to remember that Jesus commends faithfulness, not busyness. Martha's story is a mirror reflecting our own lives, often burdened by the weight of our to-do lists, yet missing the essence of sitting at Jesus' feet. The tension between Martha's distraction and Mary's devotion is a call to prioritize intimacy with Christ over the pressure of performance.

Martha's service, though well-intentioned, became a distraction, pulling her away from the one thing that truly mattered—being in the presence of Jesus. This narrative invites us to examine our own lives and question whether our activities, even those done in the name of service, are drawing us closer to God or merely keeping us busy. The story of Martha and Mary is not a rejection of service but a reorientation towards prioritizing Jesus' presence over our performance.

As we reflect on this, we are reminded that true success in the kingdom of God is not measured by our busyness but by our alignment with Him. The transformation of Martha from a distracted servant to a woman of deep faith and understanding, as seen in John 11 and 12, illustrates the power of choosing devotion over distraction. Her journey teaches us that serving is not the problem; serving without prioritizing Jesus is. By choosing the good part, as Mary did, we find a lasting inheritance in Christ that cannot be taken away.

Key Takeaways:

1. Busyness vs. Faithfulness: In a culture that glorifies busyness, it's essential to remember that Jesus values faithfulness over frantic activity. Our schedules should not overshadow our devotion to Him. True fruitfulness comes from abiding in Christ, not from our packed agendas. [40:29]

2. The Burden of Busyness: Like Martha, we often use busyness to avoid dealing with deeper issues within ourselves. However, this only burdens us further. True peace and transformation come from sitting at Jesus' feet and allowing His presence to address our inner struggles. [43:11]

3. Intimacy Over Performance: Ministry without intimacy is mere performance. Our actions for God must stem from a place of deep relationship with Him. Without this foundation, our efforts, no matter how impressive, lack eternal significance. [45:53]

4. Transformation Through Devotion: Martha's journey from distraction to devotion shows that prioritizing Jesus leads to profound transformation. Her story encourages us to balance service with worship, ensuring that our actions are rooted in a heart of peace and faith. [55:25]

5. Choosing the Good Part: The call to choose the "good part" is an invitation to prioritize Jesus above all else. In doing so, we find a lasting inheritance in Him. Our lives should reflect a commitment to His presence, allowing His voice to guide our daily actions and decisions. [01:02:20]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [06:32] - Celebrating New Life
- [12:00] - Prayer and Worship
- [20:00] - The Story of Martha and Mary
- [30:00] - The Burden of Busyness
- [40:29] - Choosing Devotion Over Distraction
- [43:11] - The Priority of Presence
- [45:53] - Intimacy vs. Performance
- [48:54] - Redefining Success
- [51:35] - Martha's Transformation
- [55:25] - A Mature Faith
- [58:19] - Balancing Service and Worship
- [01:02:20] - The Call to Obedience
- [01:04:49] - Finding Peace in His Presence
- [01:09:20] - Worship and Reflection

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Luke 10:38-42
- John 11:1-27
- John 12:1-3

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Observation Questions:

1. In Luke 10:38-42, what are the different actions and attitudes displayed by Martha and Mary when Jesus visits their home? How does Jesus respond to each of them? [40:29]

2. According to the sermon, how does the story of Martha and Mary challenge the cultural norm of equating busyness with significance? [43:11]

3. In John 11, how does Martha's interaction with Jesus demonstrate a change in her understanding and faith compared to her earlier encounter in Luke 10? [55:25]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between service and worship, as seen in Martha's transformation from Luke 10 to John 12? [58:19]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the sermon interpret the phrase "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things" in the context of our modern lives? What does this reveal about the nature of distractions? [43:11]

2. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of intimacy with Jesus over mere performance? How does this relate to the concept of true success in the kingdom of God? [45:53]

3. How does Martha's journey from distraction to devotion illustrate the potential for personal transformation through prioritizing Jesus? What lessons can be drawn from her story? [55:25]

4. In what ways does the sermon suggest that busyness can be a burden, and how does it propose we address this issue in our spiritual lives? [40:29]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your current schedule. Are there activities that keep you busy but do not necessarily bring you closer to God? How can you adjust your priorities to focus more on intimacy with Jesus? [40:29]

2. Consider a time when you felt overwhelmed by busyness. How did it affect your spiritual life and relationship with God? What steps can you take to ensure that your service is rooted in worship and not just activity? [43:11]

3. How can you create intentional moments in your daily routine to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His voice? What practical changes can you make to prioritize these moments? [45:53]

4. Think about a recent decision you made. Did you seek God's guidance and peace in that decision? How can you incorporate seeking God's presence into your decision-making process? [01:04:49]

5. Identify one area of your life where you feel distracted or burdened. How can you invite Jesus into that area to bring peace and transformation? [01:00:35]

6. How can you balance service and worship in your life, ensuring that your actions are motivated by a heart of peace and faith? What specific actions can you take this week to achieve this balance? [58:19]

7. Reflect on the concept of choosing the "good part" as Mary did. What does this look like in your life, and how can you make this choice daily? [01:02:20]

Devotional

Day 1: Faithfulness Over Busyness
In a world that often equates worth with productivity, it's easy to fall into the trap of thinking that a packed schedule is a sign of success. However, the story of Martha and Mary reminds us that Jesus values faithfulness over busyness. Martha was distracted by her many tasks, while Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet, prioritizing His presence over her to-do list. This narrative challenges us to evaluate our own lives and consider whether our activities are drawing us closer to God or simply keeping us busy. True fruitfulness comes from abiding in Christ, not from our packed agendas. [40:29]

"Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me." (John 15:4, ESV)

Reflection: What is one activity in your life that you can set aside this week to spend more time in God's presence?


Day 2: The Weight of Busyness
Busyness can often be a way to avoid dealing with deeper issues within ourselves. Like Martha, we may find ourselves burdened by our tasks, using them as a distraction from what truly matters. However, true peace and transformation come from sitting at Jesus' feet and allowing His presence to address our inner struggles. This requires us to be intentional about creating space for God in our lives, even amidst our responsibilities. By doing so, we can experience the peace that comes from being in His presence. [43:11]

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a burden you are carrying today. How can you bring it to Jesus and find rest in His presence?


Day 3: Intimacy Over Performance
Ministry and service are important, but without intimacy with God, they become mere performance. Our actions for God must stem from a place of deep relationship with Him. Without this foundation, our efforts, no matter how impressive, lack eternal significance. The story of Martha and Mary invites us to prioritize our relationship with Jesus over our performance, ensuring that our service is rooted in a heart of worship and devotion. [45:53]

"But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (Matthew 6:6, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can deepen your intimacy with God this week, beyond your usual routines of service and ministry?


Day 4: Transformation Through Devotion
Martha's journey from distraction to devotion illustrates the power of prioritizing Jesus. Her transformation shows that when we choose to focus on Christ, we experience profound change in our lives. This story encourages us to balance service with worship, ensuring that our actions are rooted in a heart of peace and faith. By choosing devotion over distraction, we open ourselves to the transformative work of God in our lives. [55:25]

"And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent moment of distraction. How can you turn that moment into an opportunity for devotion and transformation?


Day 5: Choosing the Good Part
The call to choose the "good part" is an invitation to prioritize Jesus above all else. In doing so, we find a lasting inheritance in Him. Our lives should reflect a commitment to His presence, allowing His voice to guide our daily actions and decisions. By choosing the good part, as Mary did, we align ourselves with God's purposes and experience the fullness of life in Christ. [01:02:20]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: What is one decision you can make today to prioritize Jesus in your life, ensuring that His presence guides your actions and choices?

Quotes

We live in an age where busyness is not only encouraged it is expected we will often talk about how busy we are and we will also challenge one another with who's busier than the other our culture and sadly much of the modern church has equated significance with packed schedules and overloaded to do lists Jesus did not say well done good and busy servant he said well done good and faithful servant let that sink in for a moment busyness does not equate to fruitfulness performance does not always mean faithfulness and the activities we are engaged in even those done for God can be the very things that keep us from God [00:35:14] (56 seconds)


Martha was fulfilling a role highly valued in Jewish culture, hospitality. Welcoming guests and serving meals was considered a sacred duty of the time. But Luke uses the Greek word, prespial, for distracted. And it literally means to be pulled away or over -occupied. Martha wasn't just busy, she was burdened by busyness. You can be busy, but then there is a burden of the busyness. How many of you be honest enough to say that there are some days during the week that you get home, you can't wait to go to bed? Anybody? Thank you. We're burdened by busyness. By our preoccupation. [00:41:17] (51 seconds)


And sometimes that busyness is so that we don't have to sit for a moment and deal with ourselves. Say it again. Our busyness, as long as I'm not thinking about it, I don't have to deal with it. As long as I'm not having to deal with those things, then it's not a problem for me. Listen, when we talk about crucifying the old man, it's dealing with the old man. When we talk about crucifying the things that are not of God, that are internal, inside of us, it means rooting some of those things out and dealing with the problems that we have internally and in our families, in our homes, and in our lives. [00:42:09] (51 seconds)


reveals a profound truth that intimacy with Jesus must take precedence over everything else. We may have a plan, but when the Spirit of the Lord shows up, when the presence of the Lord is among us, our schedules should disappear. Everything else that we need to do should no longer be a distraction because He is in our midst and He should get all of our attention. Daryl Park says, Jesus reorients Martha to the priority of His presence over the pressure of performance. This is not a rejection of service. [00:43:32] (47 seconds)


The danger of activity without obedience. Busyness deceives us into thinking we're accomplishing something for the kingdom. But we must understand this, that ministry without intimacy is performance. I'm not here to perform for you this morning. I'm not here to put on demonstration my relationship with the Lord either. I'm here to give you the Word of the Lord. But oftentimes, ministry without intimacy is just a performance. And performance, no matter how impressive, does not produce eternal fruit. [00:45:29] (36 seconds)


You can't see with His eyes. You don't feel with His heart. And that comes with the intimacy and the relationship. Yes, do, do, do. But you're not doing the things God's calling because we can't see what God really needs us to see. Can't feel what God really wants us to feel. Busyness drowns out God's voice. Obedience tunes us in. See, when we're doing the things God tells us to do, we read His Word, we pray, we spend time with Him, we give financially, we give sacrificially of our time, we're doing all the different routines that God has called us to do, we're being obedient to the things God wants us to be obedient in, and when our obedience, it works through an intimacy and a relationship, they're habits, they're a way of living and a way of life that leads us to a closeness with God so that we can hear His voice. [00:47:30] (54 seconds)


Jesus redefines success as alignment with Him. John 15 and 5 says, I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit. Without me, you can do nothing. Noah preached 120 years, and he only had eight converts. Jeremiah spoke to a stubborn nation with no visible success. Let me go back, because I had some words I wanted to put on the screen up here. Noah preached 120 years with only eight converts. Faithful, not flashy. [00:48:33] (44 seconds)


Martha, this is significant because it shows that Martha isn't just about service anymore. Martha is not of a rent in the cereals. I know that it is disponible for half the life. Mrs. John God blesses and people, people are living with that same life. We don't have to look too Christians from She has faith that Jesus has divine authority. When Jesus tells her, I'm the resurrection and the life, she responds with a powerful confession. Yes, Lord, I believe. I fear that some of us, Jesus responds to us and we're looking for signs. We're looking for wonders. We're looking for amazement. But we just simply need to say, yes, Lord, I believe. I believe. [00:56:13] (33 seconds)


Martha's story is one of transformation. She went from being distracted and overwhelmed to becoming a woman of deep faith and action. She wasn't just a servant. She was also a believer who understood who Jesus truly was. Her example shows us that serving isn't the problem. It's serving without prioritizing Jesus that can be an issue. By the time we see her in John 12, she's still serving. A heart of peace. Let me give you some instruction this morning. Proverbs 3 and 6 says, In all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. [01:00:49] (38 seconds)


Today, God invites us that if you're weary from doing, sit at His feet. If you're chasing results, trust His will. If you're distracted, choose the one thing. You know, I learned a very long time ago, and John, if you'll come. I learned a long time ago that when confusion comes and I don't know what to do next, I learned that where I find peace, that's where I find an answer. It wasn't very long ago that I was sitting at home and we were trying to make a very important decision. [01:03:40] (36 seconds)


Father, I think many of us have chased busyness for too long. I think many of us have been distracted by so many things that are happening in our lives. We're distracted by the news. We're distracted by our jobs, our school. We're distracted by family situations and things that are happening among us. And our hearts are not in tune with you. We're building, we're striving, but forgive us for doing those building and striving without you. Today, I want some of us to choose Mary's path. Obedience over activity. Your voice over our haste. Quiet our hearts. Direct our steps. [01:05:39] (49 seconds)


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Transcript
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