Written for and given at the Lynnville (IL) UMC on July 18, 2004. The Scripture is from the 10th chapter of the Gospel of Luke, verses 38-42.

In January of 1976, I started working at a small school district close to Jacksonville, IL as their ‘Transportation Superintendent’. This was a fancy term for describing someone who actually spent most of the time working on the buses and/or driving them, and some little time actually planning routes and overseeing drivers.

But, that ‘overseeing of drivers’ part meant that I was responsible for lining up drivers for all of the sporting events and other extra-curricular activities that went on every week. These included various field trips and class trips and such things as that. Since many of these ran well into the evening, or were all-day affairs, it was usually easier for me to find a driver willing to take my daily run and I go on the trip, myself. This meant that you could sometimes find me driving that bus in downtown St. Louis to a ballgame, to Eureka, MO., for a day at Six Flags, or Bloomington/Normal to tour the science building at Illinois State University.

Now, keep in mind that in early 1976, I was only 22 years old… barely legal to even drive a school bus! I mean, I was not all that long out of high school myself, and certainly not that much older than many of the high school students that I took on these trips, and it was only natural for me to be as interested in many of the sights and activities that I took them to as they were! So it was that whenever possible, I would unload them all as close as I could, find a place to park the bus, then hurry and join them… the teachers were usually happy to have another ‘adult’ along, though I couldn’t say I really thought of myself as one quite yet!

Occasionally, though, circumstances would prevent me from being able to join them. Such was the case on a day-tour of the Lincoln sights around Springfield… I had gone with them through Lincoln’s home and tomb, but when we got to the old State Capitol, I had to stay with the bus and move it through the bus waiting line while they went through the building. I was upset! I had not been there since a trip I had made in my fourth-grade, and I really wanted to see it! But, there I was, stuck on the bus… forced to work while they were all off learning and enjoying themselves! So, when I read this story of Mary and Martha, I can really relate to it! Well… somewhat!

I would think that everybody in the sound of my voice has found occasion to take Martha’s side in this story… after all if someone doesn’t do the work, how will it get done?! And isn’t all of this about doing God’s work, anyway? Well, yes it is… and yes, somebody has to do it! And yes, I think Jesus notes and appreciates all of the work done in His name. But… well, listen to what The Life Application Commentary has to say about it…

Hard workers beware. Note three potential problems:

1. While asking for help (a legitimate request), you point to your own accomplishments (prideful).

2. While calling Jesus “Lord” (certainly appropriate), you question his judgment with implied criticism that he is not directing his team effectively (suggesting you are a better chief than he).

3. While acknowledging your relationship to another person (Martha referred to her sister), you criticize that person for failing to follow your lead (imposing your will as right and good just because it’s productive).

A better way:

§     Never assume your own greatness.

§     Support others in their special roles.

§     Ask Jesus first; then get to work.

Martha, for her part, wanted to give her guests the royal treatment — and she should not be criticized for that. However, she allowed her concern and distraction to turn to irritation. She went to Jesus and asked him to tell Mary to get up and get to work. There is a touch of reproach in her words: “Lord, don’t you care?” and “Tell her to help me.”

So, this is telling, first of all, that we need to be really careful about how conscious we are of the work we are doing and why we are doing it… are we working for Christ… or for our own glory and prestige? But Jesus’ point in these verses goes even deeper. Again quoting from the Life Application Commentary…

How quickly duties and demands rob us of our peace. Luke uses Mary and Martha’s experience with Jesus to give us a timeless lesson in discipleship. Doing God’s work in any of its phases of planning or implementation can distract us from reflecting on Jesus’ teaching. Are you so busy working for him that you have no time to sit and listen at his feet? Jesus wants diligent service, but even more he desires that you relax, set aside worries and urgent responsibilities, and come to him in singleness of mind. Adjust your priorities. Take time to meditate on Jesus’ life, his mercy, and his love.

Think about it for a minute… isn’t that what we tend to do, whether we realize it or not? ‘I cut the grass at the church last week, so I’m a good Christian!’ ‘I stay and wash dishes after the charity supper each time we have it, so I’m a good Christian!’ ‘I sent a check for $100 to a children’s home, so I’m a good Christian!’ People, these are all good things! These are all things that need to be done! But doing them does not make you a Christian… being a Christian makes you do them!!!

That’s what Jesus is saying here! There is a time to cook and clean and take care of one another… but there is also a time to learn… a time to listen… a time to pray and reflect… a time to worship! Don’t mistake painting the fellowship hall as an act of worshiping God! Don’t confuse giving money to the church or food to the needy with giving of your self to Jesus! They are all connected… but it is the worship and the prayer and the faith and the commitment that leads us… to doing all of these other things!

In the Old Testament book of ‘Amos’, chapter 8, verses 1-12, we read how God confronted Amos with a basket of ripe fruit, saying, “The time is ripe for my people…: I will spare them no longer!” He had had enough of Israel’s sinning! “Hear this,” He said, “you who trample the needy and do away with the poor of the land, saying, “When will the New Moon be over that we may sell grain, and the Sabbath be ended that we may market wheat?”- skimping the measure, boosting the price and cheating with dishonest scales, buying the poor with silver and the needy for a pair of sandals, selling even the sweepings with the wheat.

The LORD has sworn by the Pride of Jacob: “I will never forget anything they have done.”

These people had a written law… there was no question what was right and what was wrong behavior… there was no question what God wanted from them… and even if they failed in that, there was a written procedure for them to follow for atonement… and still they failed! Not only failed, but ignored it… they turned their backs to God… most likely because they felt oppressed by all of the rules and regulations, and so on. Never mind that this was God… never mind that He had brought them out of Egypt… never mind that He had performed miracle after miracle after miracle and helped them grow into a great and powerful nation! The false gods were easier to deal with, and promised more personal gain, comfort, and pleasure! Note, the key word there was ‘personal’… they were interested in their personal gain… their personal comfort… their personal pleasure!

Martha wanted Jesus to instruct Mary to help her! She wanted to impress the Lord with all of her accomplishments and her diligence and her hard work in His name! But Jesus was far more impressed with how eagerly Mary listened to Him… how she hungered for His teaching and His wisdom. What about you?

You know, God gave Moses Ten Commandments and then followed those with a book of individual laws and directives… and the people of Israel still didn’t understand or follow them. Jesus has given us just two… Love God above all else, and Love our neighbor as our self! That’s all we have… that and this instruction book we call the Bible! God does not… will not… force us to follow and obey Him! He does not demand of us a certain number of specific things to do in order to be accepted of Him! He asks us to Love Him… and to Love our neighbor… and to listen and learn from Him just what that means! That’s all we have to do… believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and love Him! That’s it!

But you see… if we truly love Him… if we truly listen to His message and open our hearts and our minds and our souls to His teaching… we will then DO all of these things that we feel like we’re ‘supposed’ to… only… then we’ll be doing them with the joy of love that comes with truly loving and following Jesus!