Don’t Neglect the Greater While Doing the Good: 2016 Gospel of Luke #41
This is an exposition of Luke 10:38-42. This message by Pastor Rod Harris was delivered at Trinity Baptist Church on Sunday morning, January 1, 2017.
Intro:
You can understand why she was a little upset. It’s not that she minds having guests. Especially this particular guests but when He comes there’s always a crowd. Still, she loves to entertain. Nothing quite satisfies like warm fellowship around a table with good food and good company. But she could use a little help. She finally couldn’t take it any longer. She burst into the other room and was mid sentence before she realized what she was doing. She was rebuking the King of the universe! Awkward. I’m sure there was a moment of stunned silence. A moment that seemed to last an eternity. Then there came a loving response. Our text this morning is found in the 10th chapter of Luke’s gospel beginning with the 10:38.
Text: Luke 10:38-42
You probably don’t know this but churches sometimes have fights. Church arguments can get pretty heated. I remember hearing about a Baptist business meeting that got so out of hand members were throwing hymn books at each other! I supposed the reason churches have disagreements is because churches are made up of people. You heard about the man who was shipwrecked. He lived for 20 years on a deserted island. When he was finally found he had made quite a life for himself. When asked about the three structures he had built he said, “Well this is my house and over there is my church.” When asked about the third structure he said, “That’s my other church. I had a fight.” The little “dust up” between Mary and Martha is instructive for us as the church. If we look carefully at the story we find some important lessons that just may help us avoid a few of those petty squabbles.
[Read Text]
This brief passage serves to remind us…
Thesis: We must not get so caught up in service and good works that we neglect the greater thing, communion with Christ through His Word.
Dating back to the earliest days of the church there had been a tendency to regard Mary and Martha as two different approaches to religious devotion. Martha, the way of active service and Mary, the way of the contemplative life. Some serve God by doing others by prayer, study and meditation. The problem is this way of interpretation sets up a false dichotomy. A false choice. This is not a matter of either or but rather both and. Both these women are faithful servants of Christ. Both have noble characters and both have much to teach us.
There are three things I want to point out as we walk through this passage.
- It true, love and devotion are often expressed in different ways. (10:38-39)
- The bitter fruit of distracted service. (10:40)
- Whatever you do, however you serve give priority to the Word of God. (10:41-42)
Conclusion:
By the way, Martha “got it.”
That’s evident by what happened some time later.
At the death of her brother Lazarus.
You remember – he was dying and they sent for Jesus.
He waited and then went.
By the time he arrived Lazarus was dead and buried.
Listen to the exchange – John 11:21-27.
Some old Martha, blunt and to the point – “If you had been here he would not have died!”
But note the confession – 11:27 – “You are the Christ, the Son of God…”
Mary got it too – John 12 – Mary anointed our Lord for burial.
Mary and Martha, before the apostles confessed belief in the cross and the resurrection.
I think we need both Mary and Martha in the church.
What do you think?