How Are Your Priorities?

A certain woman named Martha

In a certain city called Bethany

Martha is a common name – but I believe this Martha is the only Martha found in the Bible.

Sister Martha is an example of a very hospitable woman; a good woman who loved God.  If she invited you to her home, you could count on having a good meal.  And it wouldn’t be any of that quickie stuff.  No, Martha would go out of her way to prepare a good meal for you.  

Perhaps you’re like that.  Maybe you are one who would stand out to be that certain woman from that certain town who is given over to hospitality.

NOW, MARTHA HAD A SISTER

These two sisters weren’t alike – but they both had some things in common.  

They both loved the Lord; both recognized that He was the Christ; and both were concerned about their relationship with Him.

The Scripture says that Martha received Jesus into her house: and while she prepared the meal, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet.  

Luke 10:40

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?  bid her therefore that she help me.  

This message shows how we should react, and the way we ought to be: and, also, how we shouldn’t react, and the way we ought not to be.  It shows us what ought to be our top priority in life, where our heart ought to be.

Martha felt burdened by all the preparation she had to make.  She felt it was just too much to do all alone.  She was so fussy about her meal that she let it get to her.  In her opinion, Mary was just being lazy.  So she went and asked Jesus if He couldn’t prod Mary to come and help her get the meal ready.  

She had a legitimate request.  After all, there was a special guest and there was a meal to put on for Him.  If Jesus came to your house for supper, wouldn’t you go out of your way to make Him feel at home?

Luke 10:41

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things .  .  .

It’s strange that Jesus should get into the middle of this controversy – just over a meal that was being prepared for Him.  But He took the opportunity to take a look into these two sister’s hearts, letting them see what they were really like inside.

Luke 10:42

.  .  .  but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Martha, you’re a good woman.  You’ve got a lot of good qualities.  You’re a good cook, an excellent hostess.  

You’re careful about many things – but there is just one thing that is needful.  There is one thing lacking in your life.

IS THERE ONE THING LACKING

IN YOUR LIFE?

Take a good look at your Christian experience, and ask the Lord to show you what may be lacking, show you that area which stands out more than all the good qualities you may have.

Jesus went on to make a comparison between these two sisters: Mary had chosen that good part – and Martha had not.  There was a lot of good in Martha, but she was found falling short.

Jesus could have dealt with some lack Mary may have had in her life, but He was using this opportunity to deal with Martha.  It isn’t that He didn’t appreciate her hospitality, but that’s not why He came to visit.  He came to feed Mary and Martha – not to have them feed Him.

MEAT YOU KNOW NOT OF.  .  .

John 4:31–34

In the mean while His disciples prayed Him, saying, Master, eat.  But He said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought Him ought to eat?  

Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of Him that sent Me, and to finish His work.  

Jesus was feasting that day at Martha’s house, sharing the Word with Mary.  The important thing in His visit to Mary and Martha’s home was what He had to do for them – not what they had to do for Him.

Yes, it was more important for Jesus to minister to them than to be ministered unto by them.

This is where we often get mixed up.  

There are some things that are very needful in our lives – and one of these is to sit at the feet of Jesus.  We shouldn’t allow ourselves to become cumbered down to where we have no time to listen to what Jesus has to say to us.

We can get so burdened down with work and cares that we have no time to get alone with the Lord, no time to get into His Word, no time to seek His face in prayer.

I don’t believe that one of these sisters loved the Lord more than the other one did.  

I believe that Martha had a love for the Lord.  She was just trying to show her love unto Him by serving Him a good meal.  That was her way of saying, Lord, I love you.  

Yes, Martha loved the Lord, and was willing to serve Him.  But, you see, her mistake wasn’t that she was concerned about getting the dinner ready.  Her mistake was that she was cumbered down with what she was doing.  

Her devotion and service unto the Lord became more of a matter of duty and responsibility than heart devotion.

The Lord doesn’t want us to be cumbered down.  When we’re cumbered down, our mind gets troubled, our relationship with the Lord isn’t as good as it should be.  We don’t have peace and calm within.  

NOW, MARY LOVED JESUS, TOO.

In her relationship she felt the best way to show her love was to sit at Jesus’ feet, and have Him talk to her.  His words burned like fire down in her soul.

She didn’t seem to be concerned at all whether or not Jesus ate His dinner.  I mean, anybody who would sit down and not get dinner ready when it’s time to eat must not care if they eat, or if they don’t eat.

The Lord felt these sisters needed to sit at His feet that day and learn of Him.  That was the thing which was more important.  

THIS IS WHAT IS NEEDFUL

FOR YOU AND ME.

When we go to church and leave our mind at home, we won’t benefit from what is being said.  We can’t receive from the Lord when our mind is on everything else but what He is trying to tell us.

He needs to have our full attention.  When we’re cumbered down by other things, we can’t pay attention to what He is saying.  The Word can’t feed our soul in that frame of mind, because we’re not aware that we are there sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Now, let’s try to follow this thought a bit deeper in the Word: and perhaps we can see what Jesus was trying to tell Martha.

THE CHURCH OF EPHESUS

Revelation 2:1

Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith He that holdeth the seven stars in His right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;

Some might put on a front outwardly while they’re in church, but their thoughts are the same as their thoughts away from church.  They might act spiritual in church, yet doing things at home that they would never think of doing at church; saying a few things at home that they would never dare say in church.  

Yes, they may act differently in church, but their heart is no different in church than it is at home.

Revelation  2:2, 3

I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: and hast borne, and hast patience, and for My name’s sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.

Would Jesus discern of you that you have a testimony of good works?  

In the church we find those who are Marthas.  They are hard workers.  They not only get their own work done, but pitch in to help someone else.  They don’t mind working.  All they’re concerned about is that the job gets done.

Now, God wants us to have good works: but, if it is going to cumber us down, and cause us to complain like Martha – then we’d best stop and take time to sit at the feet of Jesus.

If the work of the Lord has become a burden to us, we need to re–evaluate our motives.  The work of the Lord should never be a frustration to us.  If our work gets us upset, all we do will be displeasing unto the Lord.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.  

We can rephrase this saying to fit the message: All work, and no good relationship with the Lord makes a frustrated Christian.

If we don’t take time to get alone with Jesus, our life will become boring, our works will become laborious and burdensome – and we will soon feel like a robot, mechanically going through the motions!

When we get into such a rut, church becomes routine.  We go through the motions of singing, testifying, giving, listening, praying – and then going home.  We went to church, yes – but our soul didn’t get fed.

In the same way, good works can become mechanical to us.  We work routinely and efficiently – but down inside are robbed of the victory and the joy that is rightfully ours.

Revelation  2:4

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.  

Does the Lord have somewhat against you?  If you have left your first love, He does.

Revelation 2:5

Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.

But, Lord, look at all I’ve done for you!  I did this and I did that.  I’ve always kept myself busy for You.

That may be true – but do you still have your first love?  If you’ve left your first love, concentrate on getting that area straightened out.  

This is a serious matter: to remove one’s candlestick is to remove one’s name from the book of life.

Now, anything we must repent of is a sin.  If God wants us to repent of it then it is sinful in His eyes.  He is not pleased with it – and He wants it to have no part in our life.

What was the sin in the church at Ephesus?  To work and work and work in His name – and yet have such a small amount of love for Him.

We need to maintain a first love at all times.

WHAT IS A FIRST LOVE?

Is it the love we had for the Lord when we first got saved?  It is more than that – it is the WAY we loved the Lord when we first got saved.  Nothing mattered, except our love for the Lord.  We didn’t care what happened.  We didn’t care what went wrong.  It didn’t matter who came against us.  All that mattered was that first love.  

Well, we should keep that love burning within.  If we lose sight of it, we become as sounding brass and tinkling cymbals.  That’s the way our experience rings in the Lord’s ears.

Often it’s not that someone doesn’t want to serve the Lord any more; it’s not that they no longer want to work for Him: but the burning love they once had for Him deep within has suddenly gone.

When we serve the Lord without that first love we become like a mechanical robot.

Robots can do most anything people can do, as far as physical work is concerned – but they have no ability to love.

God isn’t looking for tin men and women.  He is looking for flesh and blood people who have hearts filled with love for Him and for His dear Son.

In everything we do, love must be our motive.  If we don’t have the right motive, all our efforts are in vain.  If we merely work for the Lord because of a sense of duty, our labor becomes tinny.  It becomes unreal, something He just can’t accept.

God doesn't just want our work and labor.  He wants our love.  After all, the church is His bride.  And if a bride doesn’t love her husband, they won’t have much of a marriage.

God loves the church.  He proved His love by sending His only begotten Son to purchase it.  And He devotes His love to the church.  His heart is fixed upon it.  His heart burns for His church day and night.

But when the church becomes mechanical and tinny, He is grieved.

We can be guilty of putting the emphasis on many other things.  

We may walk a straight line in every detail.  We may walk the straight and narrow way without ever wavering – yet, if we have no love, it will profit us nothing.

Our feet may be tracking straight – but what about our heart?  Do we have a heart after the Lord?

This is where the Ephesian church got sidetracked.  They were busy working for the Lord.  They were walking the straight and narrow way – doing all that was expected of them: but they had left their first love!

HAVE YOU LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE?

Why do you go to church?  Is it because of your love for the Lord?  Do you go to sit at His feet and learn of Him?

If you do, then He is well pleased.  But, if you go as a matter of duty and routine, it won’t benefit you one bit.

If we go to church just because we feel we have to, God won’t be pleased by our efforts.  He is never pleased when we come to church for any other reason than to love and adore Him.  He doesn’t enjoy our presence if we come for any other reason.

WHAT’S YOUR NAME TODAY?

IS IT MARY OR IT IS MARTHA?

Mary is a beautiful name.  It represents a relationship of love and of sitting at the feet of Jesus.

I wonder what Jesus had to tell Mary while Martha was so busy with other things.  I wonder what Mary received that Martha missed.  By the end of the day, Mary had grown some spiritually – but Martha was just plumb tired.

I suppose Mary couldn’t sleep that night, thinking on all that the Lord had told her.  She may have said, Martha, I wonder when He’s coming by again.

And Martha might have thought, I hope it’s not too soon.  I need a chance to get rested before He comes again.  

Church is one place where we can sit at the feet of Jesus.  It shouldn’t matter how late it gets.  It shouldn’t matter how long the sermon may be.  As long as we’re sitting at the feet of Jesus, time should have no bearing on us.

One day, two of the disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus when a stranger came by.  As they began to walk with this stranger, He spoke to them, and asked why they were so unhappy.

Well, haven’t you heard what has happened in Jerusalem?  

This stranger was Jesus!  He took over the conversation, expounding the Word of God to them and bringing out all the Scriptures pertaining to Himself.

When they arrived at the house, they invited Him in to eat.  And at the dinner table, He revealed Himself to them – then vanished out of their midst.

Luke 24:32

And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while He talked with us by the way, and while He opened to us the Scriptures?  

Our hearts did burn within us!  That’s the way it should be when we come to church.  

But some come to church to sit at Jesus’ feet, and He speaks to them about something they’d rather not hear.  

Instead of their heart burning within with a love for Him, they get uptight about what He has to say.  They feel He’s getting too hard, just because He’s telling them the truth – and they begin to pick the message apart, finding fault.

We need our hearts to burn within when Jesus speaks to us.  Anybody who loves the Lord will also have a love for His Word – all of His Word.

In the Old Testament we find that God had to write Ichabod over the door of His house.  That word means, The glory of the Lord has departed from this place.

We don’t want that to happen to us – yet it will if we allow ourselves to lose our first love.  That love is more important than all of our works put together.

John 4:24

God is a Spirit: and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Don’t try to worship God with lies.  Don’t tell Him that you love Him if you really don’t love Him.  Don’t try to convince Him that you love Him by telling Him all you do for Him.

When two people really love each other they aren’t mechanical in their relationship.  Their love is spontaneous.

I remember a story of the farmer whose wife waited on him faithfully down through the years.

After his morning chores, she always had a good breakfast waiting for him.  And for about twenty years she was faithful to take good care of him day in and day out.

One morning, he didn’t find his breakfast ready when he got back to the house.  Instead, he found his wife crying.

What was wrong?  What was troubling her?

For over twenty years you haven’t told me one time that you loved me!

He answered, I told you I loved you twenty years ago – and if I ever change my mind I’ll let you know.

That may be just a story, but what about you?  You may have gotten saved ten years ago: and, way back then, you told the Lord how much you loved Him.  But have you told Him since?

How often do you suppose the Lord would like you to tell Him how much you love Him?  As many times as you can say it – and mean it.

When you fall in love with someone, you don’t think it strange to tell them so over and over.  And, if you can’t see them that day, you’re sure to call or write – just to remind them that you love them.

In a happy marriage that love relationship continues on year after year.  You don’t keep quiet just because you take it for granted that they still know you love them.  When you stop telling your mate you love them, that’s an indication that perhaps you no longer do love them.  

YOU CAN’T KEEP LOVE QUIET.

When you really love someone, you’re not ashamed to express that love.  It doesn’t sound repetitious.  No, it’s music to your ears.  

How much more should we tell the Lord we love Him, even though we know He is aware of it.

There’s nothing harder than a one–sided marriage: where one mate loves the other but receives no love in return.  A love relationship needs to be mutual for it to grow.

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

The Lord loves us – and He doesn’t want that love to be one sided.  He gives us His love, but He also wants to receive our love and devotion.  And that’s the way it is when we first got saved.

Psalm 18:1

I will love Thee, O Lord, my strength

But, too often, Christians cool down.  They begin to take their love for the Lord for granted.  The burning within has lifted, and their love has become routine.

If this has happened in your experience, you need to get down to business and repent.  Be honest with the Lord, confessing that you have cooled down, confess you have grown tired of your love for Him, confess your interest has become mere routine.

As long as you really love someone, you won’t feel that your relationship with them is routine or dull.  

But when your love has cooled down, and your interests have changed, you start to look elsewhere.

Yes, love can grow cold and die out.  But it also can be renewed.  Our love for the Lord must be renewed day by day that it may stay alive and fresh.

If you feel that love growing cold in your soul take care of it immediately.  Take steps to restore it as soon as you notice it cooling down.  Don’t let a day go by without attending to it.