Walking With Christ

Luke 10:38–42 (38)Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village.  And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. (39)And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.  (40)But Martha was distracted with much serving.  And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me.”  (41)But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, (42)but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”(ESV)

It seems fitting that this message is running late because I got distracted by work. That’s usually how it happens. Work doesn’t always kick the door down and openly demand worship. Sometimes it just keeps asking for “one more thing” until the better portion has been quietly pushed out of reach. Martha wasn’t wrong for serving, but she had let serving pull her away from the One she was serving. That’s the danger. Work is good, responsibility is good, and providing is good, but none of it belongs on the altar. When good things take the place of God, they don’t become better. They become idols.