![]() But if we don’t spend time with the Lord or read to our children or call our parents, life goes on. If I don’t study, I’ll fail tomorrow’s final exam. If I don’t do the wash tonight, there’ll be no clean clothes tomorrow. But she failed to realize that it was also far less important.Įvery person’s day is filled with things that are urgent-work, appointments, housework, homework, phone calls, carpools, shopping, and checking the Facebook pages of family and friends. Serving the guests seemed much more urgent to Martha than listening to Jesus. ![]() That’s why Martin Luther did what at first glance seems senseless-on days when he had more to do he spent more time in prayer.Ĭharles Hummel’s booklet The Tyranny of the Urgent reminds us we must learn to discern between the urgent and the truly important. Because of this, the more stress we’re under and the more pressures we face, the more time we need to spend with God in order to face them properly. The time we spend with God determines the direction and the quality of all the rest of our time. She was a hungry soul, single-mindedly devoted to the spiritual meal served by Jesus. ![]() While Martha devoted herself to preparing physical food, Mary devoted herself to receiving spiritual food. The passage says Mary chose “what is better” or literally, “the better portion.” The word is used normally of food, and it sets up an interesting contrast. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her. Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. We can imagine Jesus gently placing His hand on Martha’s shoulder as He said: She finally confronted Jesus with her resentment toward Mary for spending time with Him instead of helping her serve the meal. Martha got uptight because there was so much to do and so little time. Mary, meanwhile, was taking the opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet and enjoy His company. Do you remember when the two sisters from Bethany, Martha and Mary, gave a dinner party for Jesus and His disciples in their home? Martha was busily doing dozens of things that “needed to be done”-or so she told herself. Does this principle sound strange? It comes straight from the mouth of Jesus. When it comes to time management, the greatest principle for us as Christians is truly a liberating one: In the final analysis, I have only one thing to do.
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