YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT 

“Now as they went on their way, [Jesus] 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.’” – Luke 10:38-42 

YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT 

In our text, we find Jesus headed two miles east from Jerusalem toward the nearby village of Bethany. Jesus stops in Bethany where his friends Martha and Mary and their brother, Lazarus, live. John’s Gospel tells us that Jesus “loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus” (John 11:5). One commentator indicates that Mary and Martha may have been the most important and prominent women in Jesus’s life after his own mother.¹ 

Luke, and later in John 11 and 12. Mary positions herself at the feet of Jesus in each of these stories. Luke says Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.” John 11 says she falls at Jesus’s feet. Mary anoints and wipes the feet of Jesus in John 12. 

Each of these women with a purpose. To Martha the purpose is to receive Jesus into a home that is clean, nicely presented to receive the rabbi and his traveling companions. For Mary the purpose is to listen. To hear what words of wisdom, of living that Jesus has come to share with them. 

Martha setting the atmosphere to receive Jesus into their home. That presentation is important. That it is truly a labor of love. Those areas and talents that we use to bring God glory. Those gifts and talents that we use to exhibit and show our love. As you all know Mr. Taylor loves to cook. It truly is a labor of love. Often amazed by the showmanship, painstaking time, energy and creativity in the dishes that he whips up.. That presentation is important. That it is a labor of love. 

Yes, listening too is a labor of love. With listening ears and hearts we can grow and transform. These women had the living word in their home. A personalized and private opportunity to be at the feet of Jesus and receive personal instruction. How precious. To sit at His feet and receive personal life instruction.  

No make wrong or right for either of these women. However, distraction leads to: disbelief, desperation and demands.  

The 4 D’s in Luke 10:38-42 

Distraction 

Here in the text, it plainly states that Martha was distracted. She was distracted with the preparations to receive guests into their home. She was distracted with her to do list. She was distracted by the list if things that she felt needed to be done or completed to receive guests. Distracted. Have you ever been distracted? Maybe it didn’t look exactly like this, but maybe it was Asking someone something they said for them to repeat it again, because as you scrolled you recognized you could not multitask, listen and scroll at the same time. Maybe, it was loosing your train of thought in mid conversation as you tried to respond and text all in one motion. Just maybe it was missing the winning shot of a loved ones game as you focused on the busyness and not the business of personal time with family. Distraction 

Then Martha goes on to express her disbelief. She expresses her disbelief to Jesus that everyone can plainly see her humping and working and Mary sitting. Her disbelief, it is right there in her tone. In her tone, That our disbelief. I’m working two jobs a total of 16-20 hours. However, you sleeping 20 hours? What’s wrong with this picture and the other four hours, playing video games. Disbelief. 

Then there is the desperation in her tone. That she is desperately seeking help. This woman Martha is desperately seeking help. Desperately seeking help with her to do list. The many tasks she has compiled that must be completed. You know the to do list. Maybe it’s on your phone and the accomplishment we feel as we complete each one and at the end of the day, we feel complete because EACH TASK WAS COMPLETED.  That if it doesn’t go that way, there is something missing.  DESPERATION. That I’m so overwhelmed I’m sinking not swimming as I thought. DESPERATION. 

Then there is the DEMAND. That the situation, her thought processes about it, the disbelief, desperation, and distraction leads her to make a DEMAND for help. That DEMAND comes with a tone directed at Jesus of all people. That as the Messiah, as the leader, it’s His fault is the implication. Like, Are you going to do something about this? I’m slaving over a hot stove, washing baseboards, ironing curtains to receive you, don’t you see me? Don’t you see all that I’m doing ? Look at me? I NEED HELP!  

DEMAND with an exclamation mark at the end for emphasis. That the anxiety, pressure and worry have become too much! It unleashes itself as a DEMAND. When she turns to Jesus DEMANDING that Jesus address Mary with her lack of help in preparing their abode, the plates and receipt of these very important guests and friends. That she was doing it alone or feeling as if she was doing it all alone. Her expectation was that the tasks she had outlined were the responsibility of her sister as well. That her priorities were somehow also Mary’s priorities.  

Both women being of service to Jesus. Yet their approaches were different. Not better, but different. One, Martha served by working hard to welcome Jesus into the home. Mary served as well. Mary serving by yielding her heart to Jesus. Sitting at His feet and listening to His words of wisdom. Both serving, just different, again not better just differently.  

When our service does not look like what others deem to be so, can we abide with Jesus. What do I mean? You see the body of Christ is composed of many, many different parts. Most often, the ones unseen, unassuming, quiet, just as well as those that are more vocal and outgoing. Each has a role and part in the Kingdom of God. However, as a body as a team serves various roles and functions. This is nothing new. Look and admire yourself. Your own flesh, with its two legs, arms, hands and feet. What if suddenly each part wanted to perform the function of the feet. What if each part wanted to perform the function of the hands? 

You see the script flipped when her service became her own and not Jesus’s. Let’s say that again slowly, the script flipped when her service became her own. You see when she started thinking about how it should go and be done, and how it should happen, that’s when the 4 D’s took over. 

Martha’s service turned from this is my space and how I can contribute to the visit of our savior to side looks. You know while she’s cleaning she’s looking and peeking into the living room seeing what Mary and Jesus are doing and Mary looks real cozy sitting at the feet of Jesus. Is she resting while I’m slaving? She’s DISTRACTED from her service as she monitors the service of Mary. 

When she begins to ponder what Mary is not doing, she experiences disbelief.  Her disbelief that Mary is not doing what (Martha) deems worthy of calling service.  

When we look at others and take our eyes off of Jesus, desperation sets in as we try to figure it out. As we try to figure out our next move to make all the balls we are juggling in the air land just so. This perfect led plan, when perfection is Jesus! Perfection is Jesus! 

Similar to when Peter was walking on the water. He was fine until he took His eyes off Jesus. When we-look at Jesus we can walk on water. Do the unthinkable. All the balls we are  juggling in the air land perfectly so, because Jesus is the one we are serving, not man. There is this supernatural strength that simply takes over. Where, you have enough sleep and rest, that 2:00am is resting listening wisdom time with Jesus. That He’s waking you up and calling your name because there is something He wants you to do for His Kingdom. There is something He wants you to share with His Kingdom. There is someone He wants you to encourage in His Kingdom and YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT because He chose you to do it. YOU, nobody else. You! Little ole’, big one’ you.  

We can also make DEMANDS because the stress of it all is just too much to bare. That stress, that angst, that anxiety manifests itself as DEMANDS. DEMANDS to help manage and control the environment that we find myself. When we look around at others service, it appears as if they are resting and not serving.  

However, when we look to Jesus, He tells us YOUR SERVICE IN IS IMPORTANT. You see, when others look at another’s service they too have taken their eyes off Jesus. However, that passion, that zeal GOD says YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT.  

Be encouraged when your assignment does NOT look like another’s. Be encouraged when you’re slaying and humping because that’s a blessing you’re working on HONEY. Be encouraged when it appears that those around you are resting. Be encouraged in your journey with Jesus because YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT. 

So, when another seems to slack and slow down know, YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT.  

When it appears that you are taking that journey alone, know, YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT.  

When no one can understand why you are relentless in your efforts, know YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT, 

Know the God, the one who knows and sees it all is watching and YOUR SERVICE IS IMPORTANT. 

Amen