Kingdom Building

July 21, 2019

Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, he 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.’

What is distracting us from doing what God has called us to do? This is a question with which we must all wrestle. How do we discern what is just a distraction from what must take precedence?  Some of these decisions are clear cut. A call comes telling me that my mother is being taken by ambulance to the hospital. It appears she has had a heart attack. The electrical lines to my house were broken by a tree falling on them. Others are not. The hardest for me is choosing to do something that I need to do but I really do not like doing over doing something that has less need but will provide greater personal enjoyment. Was that the situation with Mary? Are their times when personal enjoyment wins the weighing? For workaholics the answer is no.

I recently heard a story on a news program discussing the proven fact that good things can come out of being bored. (Bad things can too but that is another devotion.) Most citizens of the USA do not like to be bored. We get agitated if we do not have something to occupy our mind during every waking moment. I get restless. Checking our cell phones constantly becomes boring. We who may qualify as workaholics need to schedule some quality down time with God whether in contemplation or meditation even if we do it while we take our daily walk or run. It is good for the soul.

Prayer: Lord, remind me when I forget that time spent with you is the most important time of our day. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.