Are you too busy for God?

Luke 10:38-42 records a time when Jesus visited the home of Martha. It’s not every day that you get an opportunity to entertain the Messiah, so Martha did her best to show hospitality toward her guest. Martha got overwhelmed with serving a meal for others, but her sister Mary chose to sit down at Jesus’ feet to receive the Word, which is the good part. Jesus lovingly responded to Martha’s objection to Mary’s lack of help by telling her that the many things troubling her were causing her to overlook the needful thing Mary had chosen.

There are many things in our lives that we deem important to us. From our spouses, children, family, job/career, health, home, etc., the list can go on and on. These things require a portion of our time, effort, and attention that can pull us in many different directions. As you focus your efforts and attention on one thing, you simultaneously neglect the many other things in your life. Thus, you can get so consumed with the many things in your life that you can overlook the most important and needful thing, which is fellowship with Jesus. Helping and being there for others is important. Your responsibility to your job and family is just as important. But there is nothing more important than where your soul will spend eternity. “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.” – John 6:68. The Lord is not only asking you to make Him a part of your life, but he’s asking you to establish the right priorities: Love Jesus Christ first, then others, then yourself – Matthew 22:37-39. Spending time with God in private communion and in public worship must be a priority, for this time is profitable for your soul.

While Jesus was available, Mary realized there would be a time for serving and helping others later, so she prioritized receiving the Word from Jesus, which would have a lasting effect on her life long after Jesus was gone. In like manner, when your relationship with God is on the same level as all the other things in your life, you will try to fit God in when you can or give Him whatever time you have left, if any. But when you put your fellowship with God first, you will drop all the other things to prioritize time for the most needful thing, receiving spiritual nourishment for your soul – (See sermon: Drop the many things and focus on the one thing). While Martha’s desire was to serve and feed others food for the body; Mary’s desire was to feed her soul. The Word of God is our spiritual food: milk (1 Peter 2:2), bread (Matthew 4:4), meat (Hebrews 5:13–14), and even honey (Psalm 119:103). Just as the physical man needs a balanced diet of food to be healthy, the inner man needs to receive a steady diet of spiritual food. Not only is God’s Word nourishment for our soul, but it is “. . . a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” (Psalm 119:105), giving us the guidance we need to please God, and the direction we need to be ready when he comes back again.

Martha received Jesus into her home and then neglected Him because she was too busy preparing a meal. Certainly, our works for God are important, but the time you spend with Christ is far more important than the works you do for Christ. If you neglect to make personal time with Jesus to better your relationship with Him in prayer and receiving His Word, you may become like Martha, who gave Jesus prominence but not preeminence, who was helpful but not hungry, and who was busy but not blessed.