Editorial
LOOKING UP: Choosing what is right
Monday, 04 March 2013 by Joe Baisden
The scripture assigned for discussion by our Life Group at church last Sunday evening was Luke 10:38-42—the incident of Jesus' visit in the home of Martha This passage is a sure first choice for producing lively conversation Let me refresh your memory with a brief synopsis:
While Jesus was traveling along, he entered a certain city and was welcomed into the home of a woman named Martha Martha had a sister named Mary During the course of the visit, it was Mary who sat at the feet of Jesus, listening intently to him, while host Martha was distracted, busy with all her preparations for the visit Martha asked Jesus, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
It was at that point that Jesus gave this astonishing reply, "Martha, Martha, 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."
Many in our group were sympathetic with Martha One lady boldly said, "I am a Martha!" Others identified with Mary Our conversations revealed that there is a part of Martha and part of Mary in all of us.
Our goal was to earnestly try to understand Jesus' statement to Martha and make a meaningful application of the lesson to us today What does it mean to choose what is better?
Here are a few suggestions:
1. It is better to spend quality time with your children—talking with them and listening to them—than to spend all your time doing FOR your children, but REMOTE from them How many folks do you know who are generous providers of THINGS for their children whom they hardly know?
2. Trusting in the Lord is better than trusting in riches, the government, other people, our own judgment, etc So many people today think of tangible things as being "sure" while they look upon God as a "gamble."
The economic woes of today testify loudly and clearly to the word of truth in the Bible that speaks of wealth as being uncertain The Apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6:17 writes: "Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, Who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment."
3. It is better to obey than to sacrifice When a clear word comes from the Lord about what to do, no amount of doing otherwise will overcome the deficit of disobedience This lesson is clearly taught in something done by Saul, Israel's first king The command was to annihilate the Amalekites and bring back no spoils When Saul approached the sage Samuel, expecting to be congratulated on his great victory, he heard these words above the background of the bleating of sheep and lowing of cattle: "Does the Lord delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the voice of the Lord? To obey is better than sacrifice and to heed is better than the fat of rams" (1 Sam. 15:22).
Saul's disobedience cost him his throne and his influence The Bible repeatedly teaches us that our judgment is in jeopardy when we presume to accomplish God's purposes while ignoring and rebelling against His ways Life without regrets comes when we conform to His wisdom, not ours, in all our decisions.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways." – Isa. 55:9
