I want to start off this evening by asking you a question.
What is your house like when you have guests?
So we've just finished the few days of Christmas celebrations.
Thousands upon thousands of houses across the UK would have been entertaining guests.
Shopping done days in advance.
Time taken to perfect the meal plan.
Cleaning and tidying non-stop right up until the minute the doorbell goes.
Restrictions maybe on which room occupants of the house can go into and which they can't.
Does any of that sound familiar for you guys over the last few days?
So when we have guests, my wife Sabina and I usually cook and tidy the house together.
So we do the hoovering, the dusting, we fold the blankets on the couches in the living room,
we puff up the pillows and then we set the table and so on.
And once all of those preparations are done, we can't really sit on the couch just in case we make it look untidy again.
Because everything needs to be in perfect order for our guests arriving.
That's what it's like when we have guests, isn't it?
We want to have a nice home.
We want our guests to feel welcome.
We want our guests to feel appreciated and things to go as well as possible.
But if that's how we act when we have friends and family around for dinner,
imagine how different the preparations would be and even more they would be
if we had Jesus coming around to share a meal with us.
Our preparations would be more than a hundred times that, wouldn't they?
Well, that's the scene that we get an insight into this evening as we look at Luke chapter 10 together.
And tonight we're going to see two different people, two different sisters,
and how they respond to having Jesus as a guest in their home.
So if you have a Bible, please turn with me to Luke chapter 10,
and we'll start reading from verse 38.
Luke chapter 10, verses 38 to 42.
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way,
he came to a town, to a village,
where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.
She had a sister called Mary who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.
But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
She came to him and asked,
Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself?
Tell her to help me.
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.
Let's pray.
Father, may the meditations of our hearts and the words of my mouth be pleasing to you,
our rock and our redeemer.
Amen.
These verses are part of the traveling narrative of Jesus.
So his public ministry has begun,
and he's gathered a bit of a following now.
His disciples are with him,
and he has a big, big crowd.
And you see that from the beginning of chapter 10,
as he sends out the 72.
But this is still early on in Jesus' ministry,
and journey towards Jerusalem.
Luke mentions that in chapter 9, verse 51,
that Jesus set his face to go to Jerusalem.
Meaning that every step he took,
he was walking towards the cross.
All the while teaching his disciples,
preparing them for the day that he would no longer be with them.
And calling them to live lives which glorify God.
And that's where our verses come in this evening.
They're sandwiched between two exemplary sections of Luke's gospel.
Directly before it, we have the well-known parable of the Good Samaritan,
where Jesus is teaching his disciples,
and calling them to love their neighbors.
Calling his disciples to be caring,
attentive, loving, and sacrificial to those around them.
And then directly after our little passage,
is the Lord's Prayer,
where Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray,
saying that we pray to God and God alone.
That we come before him with genuine hearts and rely on him.
And that we come before him with reverence,
because he is God and we are not.
And we come before him in humility,
acknowledging that all things come from him.
And so maybe you're sitting there thinking,
well, why on earth is he going on about all of this?
Well, I'm mentioning all of this
because it gives us the important context
that we need to look at and understand our passage for this evening.
Knowing the context helps us see
the main point and focus of our passage,
which is the priorities of a disciple.
The priorities of a disciple.
Now, I chose this passage this evening
because I think
that going into a new year,
how different would our lives be?
What are our goals?
What are the things that we want
to give our time to in 2020?
The best thing for us to do
is to have the priorities of a disciple, isn't it?
The best we can do,
the best way we can live
is according to God's word
and how it sets out the priorities of a disciple.
So tonight we're going to see
those two different responses
to Jesus in this passage.
So Jesus is on his way to Jerusalem
and comes to the village
where Mary and Martha live
with their brother Lazarus.
And we know that from other gospels.
But Lazarus doesn't really appear
in this section.
We know the village as Bethany.
It's on the main road
between Galilee and Jerusalem,
just a few miles away
from Jesus' destination.
And this was a family
that Jesus held very dear.
And so we can assume
that he was a frequent guest
at their table.
Both of these sisters,
Mary and Martha,
are disciples of Jesus.
Both of them seem to understand
to an extent who he is.
So Jesus walks into the town
in verse 38.
And you can already imagine
the hustle and bustle
as the news spreads
like wildfire of his arrival,
can't you?
Jesus,
the one who's been teaching
and doing many signs
and wonders through the whole of Israel,
has now come to our little town
of Bethany.
All the people are wanting to gather
and hear this famous teacher.
And so he arrives
and in verse 38,
he's invited back
to Mary and Martha's house
by Martha.
So let's think a little bit
about Martha
and her response
to having Jesus
as a house guest
and see what it teaches us
about the priorities
of a disciple.
Now having people around
for dinner naturally means
there's work to do,
doesn't it?
You've got all the preparations
beforehand,
the need doing,
the cooking and the tidying,
but on top of that,
you've got the work
that you need to put in
when the guests
are actually in the house.
And remember that
in Jesus' day,
you couldn't exactly
pick up the phone
and tell people
you were leaving the house
so they knew
approximately when you'd arrive.
And you couldn't drop
a text saying
that you're five minutes away
to do the last minute preparations.
And so in this time,
when the guests arrived,
it would be straight
into hostess mode.
And that's what Martha does.
She's willing to serve.
She's maybe the hospitable type
and enjoys making her guests
happy and catered for.
So she's running around
getting things ready.
But then the situation
turns a little bit awkward
in verse 40,
doesn't it?
Look what it says.
But Martha was distracted
by all the preparations
that had to be made.
She came to him,
that is Jesus,
and asked,
Lord, don't you care
that my sisters left me
to do all the work
by myself?
Tell her to help me.
Now at this point,
people can be quite harsh
on Martha
and say that she was wrong
because she was preparing
things for Jesus
and his followers.
But the fact
that she was preparing
things is not bad at all.
The negative thing
about this situation
is that she's let
her preparations
distract her
from Jesus
and his teaching.
That's what Matthew
draws our attention to
in verse 40.
The problem isn't
that she's preparing things.
The problem is
that she's distracted.
Martha is working
so hard for Jesus
that she's actually
distracted from
his presence
in the house.
So the problem
isn't service.
It's that she's
been engulfed in it
and she's taken
her eyes off of Jesus.
Now there obviously
isn't a direct
line of application
here because
I can't imagine
any of us
are having Jesus
around for a meal
in the new year.
However,
many of us
are in Christian service
to a degree.
Maybe it's preaching.
Maybe it's leading services.
Maybe it's helping
with children's work.
Maybe it's leading
the music.
Maybe it's on the
welcome team
or tea and coffee.
Maybe it's part of
the food and events team.
Whatever it is.
Whatever kind of role
you have in church
you probably know
how easy it is for us
to get so involved
in that service
that we actually
seem to forget
that we're doing
all of it for Jesus.
We forget the very person
we should be serving.
It's so easy
isn't it
to dive into
serving God
and the church
that we can become
grumpy
and grumble
at those
who don't serve
as much as we do.
But what exactly
is the problem
in that situation?
Well often the problem
is found
in our own hearts
because it reveals
that we're
maybe serving
for the sake
of serving
rather than serving
out of an act
of devotion
and worship
to the Lord.
Now don't get me wrong
this is not an excuse
for laziness
in regards
to serving God.
This isn't a call
for all of us
to put down tools
and do nothing
but it is a call
for us
to ask ourselves
the very important question
in my service
for Jesus
what are my priorities?
Am I serving Him
out of love
and devotion
or am I serving Him
because I want
to be seen
because I want
to be recognized
or out of some
unwilling sense
of duty?
The reality is
that all of our service
for God
and the church
should be done
out of devotion
to Him
out of a love
for Him
and His people.
Martha's frustration
with Mary
is normal
for those
who so sacrificially
serve with very
good intentions
but who sometimes
forget that they too
need to sit
at the feet
of Jesus.
I read a missionary
book a while back
and in it
the missionary
was explaining
how his ministry
was growing
and growing
and thriving
people coming
to faith
and it was wonderful
but then he
became really sober
and he said
ministry became
an idol.
He focused
on the ministry
as opposed
to the master.
He was so focused
on doing things
that it distracted
him from Jesus
and I think
that that is
a real danger
that all of us
need to be
on the lookout
for.
Sometimes we need
to take a step
back
and look
at the big
picture
because we can
keep ourselves
so busy
with church life
can't we?
We can fill
our diaries
and run around
non-stop
but how often
do we recognize
that we too
need to sit
at the feet
of Jesus
and just learn?
The priorities
of a disciple
shouldn't be
busyness
and distraction
from Jesus
but they should
be devotion
to him
and service
out of a love
for him.
And that's
what Jesus
says to Martha
in the most
loving and gentle
rebuke in verse 41.
Jesus says
Martha
you're 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.
Now Jesus
isn't rebuking
Martha harshly
for not sitting
at his feet
and learning
but he's
encouraging her.
You can imagine
the scene
can't you?
Jesus sitting
on a wooden
bench
in the garden
surrounded
by people
keenly
listening
intently
hanging on
every single
word that
comes out
of his mouth
and then he
sees Martha
working away
in the background
and he catches
her eye
and says
Martha
everything's
fine.
Don't worry
about the
to-do list
that you've
set for
yourself
just come
here
sit
join us
I've saved
you a seat.
It's so easy
for us to
become engulfed
in our working
and serving
that we become
distracted.
But imagine
if going into
this new year
our priority
wasn't filling
our time
with things
that need
doing
imagine if
we didn't
have another
year
where we're
distracted
from Jesus
because we're
too busy
to sit
and learn
imagine if
we went
into this
year
deliberately
making time
to sit
at the feet
of Jesus
and learn
that's what
Mary did
that's what
the second
sister did
so let's
think about
Mary
and what
she can
teach us
about the
priorities
of a
disciple
now two
things are
mentioned in
this passage
about Mary
firstly in
verse 39
we're given
the detail
that she's
sitting at
the Lord's
feet listening
to what he
said
and then
secondly in
verse 41
Jesus says
Mary has
chosen what
is better
and none
of it will
be taken
away from
her
now Mary
is sat
at the
feet of
Jesus
a position
of a
student
learning
from their
master
this is the
posture of a
disciple who's
learning from
their Lord
have you ever
watched little
children
and how they
copy those
around them
children learn
to do everyday
things by
watching their
parents in
action all
the time
sure they need
a little bit of
help in the
beginning in the
early years but
as time goes
on they become
more and more
independent they
become competent
and able to
copy what their
parents have
done that's how
we learn that's
why when children
are young parents
are even more
careful than
normal not to
show any bad
habits in front
of them because
they soak up
everything like a
sponge we're
born with that
natural instinct to
sit and learn it
is how we learn
by default it
is how we grow
and develop and
that's why one of
the priorities of
a disciple should
be to sit at the
feet of Jesus
like a child
listen to every
single word that
he says
imitate at him
as we live
according to his
priorities
like children we
need to soak in
the word of God
so that we can
grow into mature
believers whether
you're nine or
ninety there is
always growth
and that's what
Mary's doing
she is sitting at
the feet of Jesus
with the rest of
his followers soaking
in his teaching and
wisdom
so what does this
convey about Mary
well it shows us
that she had faith
and some kind of
understanding of who
Jesus is
it shows us that
she was willing to
submit to his
teaching and act
on it
willing to live
out his teaching
and it shows us
that she loved
Jesus and wanted
to serve him
she was one of
his followers
her posture
sitting at the
feet of Jesus
shows us that
Mary loved the
Lord
loved his word
and wanted to be
the best disciple
that she could be
now imagine if
that was our
priority as we
look into the
new year
imagine if
from the very
beginning of
2020 we make
a conscious
decision to
submit to the
word of the
Lord as revealed
in the Bible
and live in
such a way that
we give God
all the glory
imagine if we
had just an
ounce of what
we see in
Mary as she
left all of her
worries behind
and just sat
at the feet of
Jesus
if we did
this I think
our devotional
lives would be
healthier because
we wouldn't be
trying to squeeze
in that five
minute Bible
reading and
prayer in the
morning but we
consciously take
time to reflect on
God's word and
submit to it even
though it will make
us uncomfortable
if we actually
take time to be
listeners and doers
of God's word then
we will be more
open and available
for the Lord to use
us to share the
gospel to share the
good news of Jesus
with people to be
his witnesses to
the world and we
will be more joyful
in our service
if we took a leaf
out of Mary's book
and invest time in
listening to the
Lord then I think
we'd be more devoted
to him
again this doesn't
mean that we only
listen and do
nothing
it doesn't mean
that we can sit
back and relax
but it means that we
become active
listeners of the
word of the Lord
though we come
under the authority
of the Bible and
live
life in such a
way that glorifies
him the life that
we're called to
live we are called
to be perfect
because he is
perfect
by doing that
Jesus says we're
doing a good thing
in verse 42
Jesus says of
Mary Mary has
chosen what is
better and it
will not be taken
away from her
now again this is
part of that loving
and gentle rebuke
of Martha but it
tells us a little
bit about Mary's
priorities and the
priorities that
Jesus wants for his
disciples Mary chose
what was better
meaning that her
decision to sit to
listen and to learn
from Jesus was a
better choice than
preparing him a meal
it was better because
Jesus was only with
them for a short
while because soon
the day would come
when he wouldn't be
around anymore and
the opportunity to
learn from him would
be gone it was
better because Mary
was spending time in
the presence of Jesus
God in the flesh and
learning from him
we've just come through
a few busy days of
celebration and we're
going into what will
undoubtedly be another
busy year so why not
take time take a few
minutes this evening or
tomorrow or whenever you
get a chance and just
sit under the Lord's
teaching sit under the
authority of the Bible
ask for God to be at
work in your life ask for
his spirit to continue
that transformational work
in you and ask that God
would help you submit to
him ask for strength to
live as a good disciple
whose desire is to see
God glorified pray for
spiritual growth and
maturity pray that you'd
prioritize God and his
kingdom in the year that
is coming just take that
little bit of time before
the mayhem begins to sit at
the Lord's feet and Jesus
says that it will not be
taken away now we can assume
based on the context that
Jesus is speaking about
Mary listening to him and
the relationship that she
has with him he is saying
that Mary isn't wasting her
time because she is
investing in her relationship
with the Lord and that
relationship will never be
taken from her Mary's
focusing and learning from
Jesus and the things that
she is learning are the
very truths that will carry
her through the difficulties
of life they are the
truths that point her to
Jesus as God in the flesh
and the truths these truths
are the words of eternal
life nobody can take that
away from her and friends as
you sit under the teaching
of Jesus no one can take
that from you either when we
sit under the truths of the
word of God as we sit at the
feet of Jesus they are the
truths that change our hearts
they are the truths that fuel a
life of devotion and service of
God because if we know who he
is then we will want to serve him
then we will want to be the best
disciples we can be for his
glory a good indication of
someone sitting at the feet of
Jesus is someone who's being
transformed by those words by the
teaching and someone whose life is
being changed you can never really
know the scriptures until you're
willing to be changed by them
everyone seems to have a theory of
what the problems are with the
global church every Christian has had
conversations about what the church
needs to be a better place and every
Christian has pondered how we can
reach more people how we can be
better equipped to live life in a
fallen broken world but friends the
answer is not in the newest strategy
from the celebrity pastors it's not in
the new ministries by the biggest
churches around the answer is not
found in programs or busyness the
the answer is that we need to sit at
the feet of Jesus and learn
service is good but disconnected from
fellowship it's useless we don't
invite people over or go to people's
houses to sit at their kitchen tables
for them to be running around
constantly making foods do we no we go
there and we invite people so that we
can have fellowship enjoy company build
on relationships and it's the same
with service
without sitting at the feet of Jesus
service is meaningless we can do all
if we want but unless we have a
meaningful relationship with the Lord
and we're devoted to him then we're
just ticking off our own checklist of
to-dos service is important but it
must come from a healthy relationship
with the Lord and it must be born out
of time sitting at his feet and
learning friends as we draw to a close
the thing that these two sisters teach
us about the priorities of a disciple
are that we should serve out of a
devotion to the Lord but not let the
busyness of life distract us from him
and we need to sit under the teaching
of Jesus and hear his word
let me tell you that there is no better
way to spend your time than in the
presence and word of our wonderful
savior Jesus Christ let's pray
together
father as we think of this new year
coming our way
we pray that you would be our
priority
we pray that we would be humble
and Lord that we would submit to your
word
that we would set aside time to invest
in our relationship with you to grow in
our understanding of who you are of who
we are in you because of the wonderful
gospel of Jesus Christ
father help us look to you help us
focus on you and help us be good and
better worshipers of you for your
glory and for the upbuilding of your
kingdom in Jesus name amen
love you
let's gather and
help us
guys
we
love you
we
love you
you
grace
you
the
amazing