“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)
What if I were to ask you, “How are you doing?” How would you answer? Let me guess, you’re “busy,” right? But I’m guessing you’re not just busy, you’re probably busy and distracted, like Martha in the account above. According to Pew Research, 21% of Facebook users get off the social media platform because they’re too busy and it’s distracting. Distracted busyness is a problem for most of us and it’s killing our emotional, physical and spiritual health.
Martha was “distracted with much serving,” probably making sure her home was neat and tidy, and that Jesus was fed and treated with five-star hospitality. But it wasn’t just Martha’s busyness in service to Jesus that she was called out for. Martha was, according to Jesus, “anxious and troubled about many things.” She was on the treadmill of life she’d created and afraid she’d fall off if she stopped running. Jesus was right there, in her home, and Martha was too busy for Him. In all her busyness, she totally missed out on the one who could help carry her burdens and give her true rest.
How about you? Are you too busy for the Lord? Yes, social media can definitely be a time sink and distracting, but there are many other things that sidetrack us from receiving what Jesus referred to as “the good portion.” The good portion is sitting at the Lord’s feet and receiving the means of God grace He’s given you to rest in: His word, the worship of Christ’s church and the fellowship of the body. Too often, we put the good portion at the bottom, rather than at the top of our to-do lists, and we do so to our own detriment. Jesus called these things “necessary” above all else, which means we should schedule our calendars and to-do lists with the word, worship and fellowship within the body of Christ first, and then fill it with whatever else is necessary. When we fail to do so, like Martha, our lives will be filled with anxiety and trouble, rather than peace and rest. “Choose the good portion, which will not be taken away from you.”
“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. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)
holdfirmly 