“Perhaps the greatest challenge facing the church in America today is the shallowization of the church” – Max Anders in his book Brave New Discipleship.

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42, NKJV

No one sets out for mediocre. No one sets out for tired and boring. No one sets out to ruin a marriage or lose contact with their kids. No one hopes to pile on enough debt to go bankrupt. No one hopes to have a panic attack. No one sets out to sink the ship. But somehow we get there. We get there through choices big and small.

I never set out to be overweight. I always envisioned that I would be muscular, fit, and able to run for miles. However, I’m NOT muscular, fit, and able to run for miles (yet!), because along the way I didn’t make choices that would put me in that position. Instead of choosing the gym, I chose to sleep in. Instead of getting out and running, I put it off. Instead of eating healthy, I chose what was the most convenient. I didn’t want to get fat, but I got there because of my choices. Taken in isolation, none of those choices were bad choices… they just weren’t the BEST choices.

The same thing is true of the choices we make to help us or hurt our spiritual growth. People don’t intentionally set out to drift away from God. They end up there through a series of small choices. They aren’t choices between good and evil, but choices between good uses of time and the best use of their time.

In the gospel passage we’re looking at today two sisters both choose how they will spend time when Jesus is in the house. One sister listens to Jesus, while the other chooses to serve Jesus. Neither choice is a bad choice. They both seem good. But we are told that one choice is better than the other, or as some versions translate it, “Chosen the good portion.”

If you had to pick who was doing something wrong here you might pick Mary, especially if you looked through the eyes of Martha. Mary looks lazy while Martha is busy working. Who would condemn Martha for working hard and serving others?  She isn’t breaking a law. She’s not committing murder or adultery, she’s not neglecting her children, she is actually being very vigilant. She’s making sure that everything and everyone is taken care of. She is pouring herself out… She is serving.

But this good thing like serving can become a bad thing when it seeks to become the main thing. Martha forgot that hearing from Jesus was more important than serving Jesus. So in the midst of her serving, she even interrupts Jesus and tries to get Him to chide Mary…. Get that, she is so distracted that she interrupts Jesus!

Jesus speaks soothingly to Martha. He says her name twice. He tells her that she is distracted with much serving. Martha will remember what she did that day, but Mary will remember what Jesus did. The serving that Martha did, will have to be done again when others come through, but what Mary learned at the feet of Jesus can never be taken away from her.

Do you remember the old Hymn, Take time to be Holy… We don’t sing it as often as we used to. It’s a good hymn because it reminds us to take time for what’s important. In order to bless others, it’s a good thing to take time to have our cup filled. I challenge you to take time to be Holy today and read in God’s word.

Father, thank you for your word. Thank you for this story that reminds me that the choices I make about spending time with you will have an input on my character. I don’t want to become so busy serving you that I forget to hear from you. Help me to focus on your will and purpose for my life. Sometimes I feel like I try and run ahead of you, give me the patience to wait on you. In Jesus Name, Amen.

1. Take time to be holy, speak oft with thy Lord;
   Abide in Him always, and feed on His Word.
   Make friends of God’s children, help those who are weak,
   Forgetting in nothing His blessing to seek.
2. Take time to be holy, the world rushes on;
   Spend much time in secret, with Jesus alone.
   By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be;
   Thy friends in thy conduct His likeness shall see.
3. Take time to be holy, let Him be thy Guide;
   And run not before Him, whatever betide.
   In joy or in sorrow, still follow the Lord,
   And, looking to Jesus, still trust in His Word.
4. Take time to be holy, be calm in thy soul,
   Each thought and each motive beneath His control.
   Thus led by His Spirit to fountains of love,
   Thou soon shalt be fitted for service above.