Quest 39

WORRY IS ABOUT CHOICE.

Luke 10:38-42:

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 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!"

 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

The Setting

• Jesus attended the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem amidst rumors of arrest and death threats.

• Some close friends invited Jesus to their home in a village outside of Jerusalem for some R and R.

• Jesus and his apostles arrived and found Martha, the hostess, frantically preparing dinner for Jesus and his entourage.

• The more Martha worked, the more irritated she became with her sister, who joined the guests in listening to Jesus.

• Finally, she interrupted the discussion, and complained to Jesus that he didn’t appreciate how hard she was working and how lazy her sister was.

• Instead of correcting Mary, Jesus corrected Martha (you are worried and upset about many things) because of the choice she made vs. the choice Mary made: “Mary has chosen what is better.”

Question: What had Mary chosen?

1.   Take a personal inventory of things Jesus said NOT to worry about.

• Material needs of life, like food and clothing

  • "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear.” (Luke 12:22)

• Living longer

  • “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?” (Luke 12:25-26)

• Tomorrow

  • “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)

• What to say when arrested for being a Christian

  • “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say.” (Matthew 10:19)

2.   Living like the world fills you with worry and despair.

• In the Old Testament, if God’s people drifted away from him into the world, they would know anxiety and despair (Deuteronomy 28:65) – “Among those nations you will find no repose, no resting place for the sole of your foot. There the LORD will give you an anxious mind, eyes weary with longing, and a despairing heart.”

• In the New Testament, Jesus said his followers were not supposed to live like the anxious world (Matthew 6:31-32) – “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

3.   Make the better choice – the one Mary made.

• Listen to Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30) - "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, 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."

• Instead of anxiety, find peace (John 14:27) - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

4.   When you make the better choice, your perspective will change.

• Thanksgiving will replace anxiety (Philippians 4:6) – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

• Thanksgiving will bring you to the feet of Jesus (Luke 17:15-16) – “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him — and he was a Samaritan.”