It goes without saying that there are a lot of issues to complain about without having to look very hard. Inconsiderate workmates, loud neighbours, erratic drivers, and those road cones that stretch for miles with no obvious purpose, are but a few things that will get under your skin if you let them.
When giving serious thought to reaching out to the lost you realise that you disadvantage your cause when distractions prevail. All those petty annoyances get in the way of prayer, Bible preparation and the ability to listen carefully to those you want to lead to Christ.
Worse still is the realisation that you have turned some people off because of your overreaction to mundane events. Somehow non-Christians just expect those trying to convert them to be more mature when dealing with nuisances common to all.
Jesus’ reaction to Martha’s dinner preparations remains a sobering reminder of our Lord’s attitude towards the distracted mind. Ironically, if you and I were with Martha on that day, we probably would have been shocked at Jesus’ words to her. Afterall, all she was trying to do was be the perfect hostess.
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”(Luke 10:41-42).
And this, of course, is the heart of the matter: By promptly neglecting her work as a hostess and sitting at Jesus’ feet, “Mary had chosen what is better.” In fact, she had chosen the “only thing needed,” according to Jesus.
Jesus was not going to allow ‘Food for the stomach’ to push the ‘Food for the soul’ off of Mary’s plate.
0 Comments