Sunday, December 7, 2014

How Distracted Are You?

World hunger.  Disease.  Orphans.  Poverty.  Crime.  Abuse.  Disaster.  These are just a few of the billions of problems in our world today.  It doesn't matter what city you live in, just take a walk down any street and you will find SOMETHING that needs to be done.  Someone will need food, a new roof, the driveway shoveled, a tire changed.  Walk further and you'll find a woman who needs to get out of a dangerous situation.  You'll see children being mistreated.  Keep going.... what else do you see?

You might think that this post is going to be all about social justice, prodding you to do more to help all these people.  Get involved, join a cause, help everyone!  Well, I am sorry to disappoint, but what I have to say is quite the opposite.  Sort of.

Overwhelmed.  Scattered.  Disoriented.  Frazzled.  These words describe the person who is constantly busy "doing good" for others.  I'm talking about the "Martha's" out there.  Those women who work all day in the kitchen and then get mad that they didn't get to just "visit".  It's those who give a dollar at every bank, every grocery store, every gas station every time they have a fund raiser to help feed the starving children.  It's the mom who spends every second of every day doing things for her family.  "Martha's" tend to always be on the go, always busy, and most of the time they wear it as a badge of honor.  I'm not saying that it's wrong to give, to help, or to serve.  On the contrary, we are called to  give, help, and serve, but we are not called to EVERY need.

Before you quit reading, let me share what God's Word says and explain why this is on my heart.

Luke 10:38-42 "Now it happened as they went that He (Jesus) entered a certain village;  and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word.  But Martha was DISTRACTED WITH MUCH SERVING, and she approached Him and said, 'Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Therefore tell her to help me.'  And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.'"     

I capitalized the words "distracted with much serving" because it's a tendency I have and that's what has spurred on this post.  Most women read this passage and relate themselves as either a "Mary" or a "Martha".  I believe that we should be both.  Jesus didn't tell Martha not to serve, nor did He tell Mary to get up and help.  He had to show Martha in this moment that she was DISTRACTED with her service.  She had let the kitchen work get in the way of spending quality time with Him. 

There are a lot of "service" opportunities in this world, but we have to focus on hearing from the Lord to allow Him to guide our steps.  He will call us to service, and we need to obey and follow His call.   Jesus does not measure our worth based on what we do or how much we do.  We were worth dying for while we were still living in our sin. (Romans 5:8)  If Jesus loved us enough to die for us, even while we were rejecting Him, then how could He possibly love us any more?  Nothing I do in service is going to add merit to my life in the eyes of Christ.  Because I have trusted in Jesus Christ as my savior, I am covered by His righteousness and that is how God see's me, regardless of how many "good things" I am doing.   It is very easy for us as Christians to fall into the trap of being "distracted with much service".  That's why it's so important to choose only what God has placed before us.  Let God make your schedule each day.  He won't overload you.  (Matthew 11:28-30)

I haven't posted anything since May.  God has been teaching me so much since He changed our lives this year.  I have had to adjust as He re-directed my life and priorities.  I was becoming overwhelmed by things that I never thought would bother me.  This is where I had to come back to: Balance.  Doing only what God gives me to do each day. Accepting that I can't do every little thing that I see needs to be done. I can't help everyone in every situation.  I have to trust God in my home, my church, and my career and follow only the steps He gives me each and every day.  When I sit at His feet to hear His word,  He shows me what He wants me to do. 

What are you distracted with that is taking you away from your relationship building time with God?  Are you overwhelmed with "doing good"?  When's the last time you simply sat as His feet and heard His word?