Luke 10:38-42 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.”
It is a good thing to work for the Lord. It is a blessing to serve in His house and to reach out to others in His name. But the Lord does not delight in only such sacrifices and burnt offerings, especially where total obedience to His voice and Word of instruction is missing.
1 Samuel 15:22 But Samuel replied, "What is more pleasing to the LORD: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.
Many a time, people sacrifice a close relationship with the Lord with simply working for Him. People choose what they want to do for God, they sit and plan their job roles and job specifications , surprisingly without the consent of their employer, God. God has a plan for every life, and when we make Jesus our Lord and Saviour, He wishes to lead us daily by His Holy Spirit into the work He has for us. We cannot truthfully follow God as His sheep when we do not listen out for His voice.
Martha was busy working for God, probably cooking for Jesus. However, Jesus did not regard all her preparations as priority at that time - “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. At each point in one's life, there is one thing needed, and it is to listen to what God is telling you, and to follow and obey Him. Whatever you are busy doing for and in the name of God is inconsequential, if it is not what God requires of you at that point in time. Human beings judge who is making progress with what is being done, when people appear busy, we tend to think they are achieving a lot. God however studies hearts and discerns and knows whose work is of substance and whose is not. All the Lord seeks is a heart that loves Him, and is willing to follow Him. What you do for God without God and His approval will not survive, but what is done for God , with and by God, lasts forever.
1 Corinthians 3:13-15 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
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