What Do We Need to Spend More or Less Time Doing?

What Do We Need to Spend More or Less Time Doing?

Good Morning Friends,

Most of us spend way too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important.  In other words, you and I may be spending a lot of time getting things done, and not so much about getting the right things done. And above all, we need to set time aside for the important things… the vital things, like God and family. So at the end of each day, we need to look at how we have spent our time, and adjust the allocation as necessary for the next day.  We need to get rid of our schedule’s complexities so we can spend more time on the things that matter. Sounds easy but it is not, for it means fine-tuning some things and eliminating others so we are left with only the ones that add value to our life.  And this brings us to today’s question. What Do We Need to Spend More or Less Time Doing?

Scripture: 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.’

Luke 10:38-42 (NRSV)

And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life?

Matthew 6:27

 ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

Matthew 11:28-30

Message: Ok, I am going to give up sugar in my coffee and see how it goes. I am going to worry less too. Oh, so you so you also have stress? Do you have too much to do and too little time? Want to get rid of your anxieties? Well maybe it means getting priorities in order so there will be time for everything that is needed. It starts, I think, with understanding that our purpose is to glorify the Lord and part of that is enjoying the creation He has made for us. When we put our relationship with God first, then our family, then our work, then our time of serving, it all can fit like an easy yoke. It does not fit if we try to take it all on ourselves. You see God never intended for man to carry life’s burdens alone. Jesus gave the weary and stressed out three commands: to come to Him…to take His yoke and to learn from Him. He personally invites us to come and see….to come and drink….to come and eat…to come and work….to come and be changed…to come and be transformed in His blessing. Today’s scripture addresses this very issue in the case of Martha resorting to self-pity when she becomes out of balance. We see her become angry with others and find fault and even begin to question God’s care. Out of balance her attitude made her busy but not blessed for a time. And in contemplating the reading we have ask if we are motivated and focused by duty or devotion. But make no mistake in understanding the story, both Mary and Martha learn from the experience and we should too as we consider how we spend our time.

Pray that our priorities are in order. Pray that our activities are connected to Jesus. Pray that we work with Jesus for His purpose and glory….that we rest in His Sabbath each day. Pray that we become yoked to God.
Pray that we serve the Lord out of love not habit. Pray that we not lose focus on what is really needed. Pray that we remember why we are doing what we are doing. Pray that God enables us to do what needs to be done with joy and satisfaction. Pray that we learn to confess our belief with the clarity of a Martha who witnessed her faith in Jesus upon the resurrection of Lazarus. Pray that we worship in service and duty like a Mary anointing the feet of Jesus with expensive oil a week before the crucifixion. Pray we come like Mary to the tomb to discover He has risen. Pray that we stop and listen to the gentle words of the Savior and achieve a focused understanding of the priority and order of our actions. Pray we grow in the tension and balance between duty and devotion…faith and reason… enlightened by the words of Christ. Pray we decrease so He can increase.

Blessings,

John Lawson