Luke 10:38-42
Missing the Point

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her."

New Revised Standard Version

It seems like, from a Christian perspective, there are only two areas of danger we face when resolving issues of work. The first is not doing it; the second is doing it.

There are many places in the Bible that confront those that want to be a part of the Kingdom, but without doing the work, in whatever form it takes. None seem to me to make this argument as strongly as James in his letter, who dares anyone to show him Faith without the Works that flow naturally and inevitably from the new life which Jesus places inside us.

Martha in this passage certainly was hard at work, and working out of a deep love for her Savior, and working to give the best of what she had to honor His visit to her house. Certainly James would not have doubted her faith or her love for Jesus by the actions she was taking. Her motivations were pure, her intent was right, and her love and commitment was strong.

But Jesus points out to her that all her good intentions had turned out to be distractions from what was best.

Luke doesn't record if Martha and Jesus debated this more, but it wouldn't surprise us today if the conversation didn't continue further. Our objections, like Martha's, would go something like this:

"But I want the house to be clean for You, Jesus!" And Jesus' answer might point out how our motivations were misplaced on protecting our own reputation and image.

"But You deserve the best, Jesus!" And Jesus' answer might remind us that the best we can do in lodging could never compare with His heavenly home.

"But I am working to show you my love; Mary isn't doing anything!" Maybe Jesus' answer would remind us that the Walk isn't a competitive foot race between believers; our focus must always be on what God wants.

More likely, Jesus would have spelled the same message out again for Martha, more simply and clearly this time. "Martha, what you have that I want isn't your house, or your dinner, or your work. What I want is your heart. I want you to love Me so much that you will accept eternal life from me, and live that life of love in everything you do. That calling is hard work, too, Martha. It involves burying your desires, your pride, and your ways, and doing My will, walking in My way. Mary is here listening, studying, and showing her love for Me in growing in her Walk. Martha, the way you could best show your love for Me is to come, sit, listen, be with Me now. That, my dear child, is what is Best."

For as long as there have been preachers, there has been this danger that in doing the work of the Kingdom, preachers would miss living in the Kingdom and fellowshipping with the Risen Lord. Picture a small church in the country, with the congregation streaming out the front door joyously celebrating God's love, and the preacher slipping out the back door, exhausted from the tasks of ministry. It has happened far too often.

In today's progressive churches, there are many more people than simply the preacher at risk. Think of the other worship leaders, focused on the work of hitting their marks and maintaining the flow of the service. Think of sound technicians, light technicians, camera crews, and producers focused on enhancing the worship experience and recording or broadcasting the "event." Think of ushers managing the flow of automobiles and people, ensuring enough handouts are where they should be and that none of the bathrooms run out of paper towels. Think of dozens of other roles that are required to conduct worship in the way we believe will appeal to the unchurched people around us -- and you lose count of the people who are in danger of being distracted from what is Best.

There is only one way to combat these distractions, and that is to sit at the feet of Jesus. Those of us called to work in producing worship experiences will miss some of the chances to "be still and know" during worship, but we can later. We can become a part of a regular small group, we can attend a different worship service, or we can arrange a rotating schedule, but we must do something so we, too, can experience what is Best in the presence of the Living Lord.

Don't miss the point of worship!