The Kingdom’s Action Plan – Part IV
Key Verse: Luke 10:42
“There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Additional Reading: Luke 10:38-42
I want to spend another day on this story of priorities for the Kingdom of God. Jesus uses the circumstances that he was in to bring about a teachable moment for Martha.
When Martha told Jesus to tell Mary to stop just sitting at His feet and come help her, Jesus rebukes her in such a tender way: “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details”, (Luke 10:41b).
Jesus doesn’t get mad at us when we get worried and upset over our details of life. I hope we can all hear Jesus call us by name and tell us He understands what is upsetting us… because that is exactly what happens when we get worked up about a situation in our lives. One of the many things that Jesus did while on this earth was experience every temptation that mankind would ever face. He felt the pull of the evil one just like we do when faced with a temptation. He felt the tendency to worry and be upset over the details of His negative situations during His 33 years on this earth.
Yet, Hebrews 4:15 tells us that in all those temptations He never gave in. Jesus faced it all without sin! The next time you get all frustrated, worried, and upset over a situation in your life, take a moment to remember that Jesus is right there with you; He’s not mad at you but has a tender and understanding heart!
The next words Jesus said to Martha are the most important words of this story, in my opinion: “There is only one thing worth being concerned about” (Luke 10:42a). Jesus did not tell Martha that she should never be concerned about anything. That’s because it is not true!
As Christ-followers, some things we should be concerned about. Jesus also reminded His followers, in Matthew 10:28, that they should not “be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell”. Yes, Christ-follower, there are things you should be concerned about, even afraid of!
This lesson, I hope, reminds all of us that we want to know everything Jesus taught and to learn for our spiritual growth! Get worried about any apathy toward prayer and Bible study. Get worried about any lukewarmness that might creep into your soul! Get worried when you are more concerned about being late to work and social engagements than you are about being late to church. It’s sad when we are so worried about day-to-day things that have little to do with God’s Kingdom. The only thing worth being concerned about is the health of your soul. All other things will work out for your good, according to God’s Word (Romans 8:28).
Father, may your Spirit in me remind me often of what I truly need to be concerned with in this life. I pray this in Jesus’s Name, amen.