Only A Few Things Are Necessary

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:
Luke 10 (click the link)


KEY VERSES:
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “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.”(Luke 10:38-42, NIV)


REFLECTIONS:
Jesus tells Martha that she is wound up about so many things, but only a few things are necessary, really only one, and that one thing is Him.

It wasn’t that the things Martha was up to weren’t worthwhile; it’s just that they weren’t worth getting stressed about.  And if we are stressed about stuff, everything we do becomes heavier—including our service in the Kingdom.  If we can let go of the unnecessary concerns, we have more space, time, mental and physical energy to take care of the necessary matters—the things that have eternal significance—like having a rich private life with Jesus which allows His goodness, love and power  to overflow in everything we do.

I have a hard time letting go of the things that do not matter to embrace the things that do.  I often find myself stressed about details that, honestly, if they go undone, really will not carry much impact.  When I do not worry myself with the things that are not necessary, my heart is open to being more available to serve because I am not trying to carry the weight of these unnecessary matters into to an assignment.

For example, like Martha, if I am having people into my home, I can easily get wrapped around whether it is clean enough, whether it is decorated nicely, whether I have tasty food to offer.  Not that there is anything wrong with these things—and people probably appreciate my vacuuming up the dog hair and the gift of food, but if I treat these things as necessary such that I can’t make my home available unless I can do them, then I simply will be less available to serve Him.

When I am inviting people into my world, I often have to remind myself to be more concerned with the condition of my heart than the condition of my house.  I want to be one who spends time praying for the people who come to my house more than I worry about whether they will judge me for not having the dishes done.


POINT OF ACTION:
Ask yourself:  What do I spend time thinking about or doing that takes up unnecessary space in my thoughts and life?  What eternal thing am I unable to embrace as a result?


PRAYER:
Jesus, in all aspects of life, help me let go of the things that do not matter to embrace the things that do.  I want you to so transform my perspective that the things I am concerned about are the things you are concerned about.  I want to open wide my house and heart to make room for what you care about—who you care about.  Free me from worry about the stuff of this world that hold no eternal value. 


WHO AM I?
I’m Lisa Kirby and I love the story just before the Martha and Mary story where the LAWYER GOT IT RIGHT—love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind and love the people you encounter with the same care and concern you have for yourself… yeah… sometimes the lawyer gets it right.