Any student of the Word recalls how Jesus gently reprimands Martha for noticing what Mary is NOT doing (instead of what she IS doing), and is in such a dither all over it, as she multi-tasks. Martha thinks that work is more important than discipleship, spending time with the Lord, and studying the Word. According to Jesus, Mary chose the better part, which was to avail herself of the rare opportunity to be tutored by Jesus nearly one-on-one at His feet.
It's not that prep work is not important, or that Jesus loved Martha less, but that she had her priorities wrong and should've taken advantage of the opportunity--seize the day! Even though we must not be so heavenly minded we are no earthly good, one must love the Lord enough that it shows in our thirst for the Word. Some people are too busy doing work for the Lord, that they spend little time with the Lord (in devotion, prayer, fellowship, worship, and the Word).
Whatever we do, ought to be in the name of the Lord (cf. Col. 3:17), both the so-called mundane and spiritual functions and whatever we do, we ought to do to the glory of God (cf. Col. 3:23). Revered theologians have said that to work is to pray, if done in God's name. Bro. Lawrence wrote The Practice of the Presence of God to prove that even in washing dishes in a monastery, one could fellowship and enjoy God's blessing and company. I recall the bricklayer who said, when asked what he was working on, replied that he was building a cathedral. Our outlook and orientation to what we do affect our fellowship and faith.
If we are so busy that we have no time for the Lord, our priorities are wrong and we need to get them aligned and in sync with God. Balance is the key--it's true that all work and no play make a dull person; one must exercise his faith and exhale after inhaling the Word. Even the best students of the Word don't spend all their time in Bible study, but realize they must put it into practice--like James 1:22 said not to be mere hearers of the Word but does also. We need to apply what we know, even in the mundane and realize that we are rewarded according to our works, not our faith. We are to "bear fruit in every good work," as we "increase in the knowledge of God" (cf. Col. 1:10); 2 Pet. 3:18 (CEV) exhorts us to "... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...."
It's not that washing dishes or cooking is unimportant, but that one should never let our busywork crowd out our time with the Lord--there comes a time of practicing what we preach and turning our creeds into deeds. There comes a time of putting our faith into practice! Just like the saying goes: The faith you have is the faith you show! Like Paul appropriately said, "If any man is unwilling to work, he shouldn't eat" (cf. 2 Thess. 3:10).
Christianity is a very practical faith and not a mystical one that values people with their heads in the clouds or on cloud nine all the time, like the Eastern mystics who practice their piety before men with cloistered virtue. Preaching a sermon is no more a divine or spiritual a task than digging ditches if both are done to the glory of God--they just represent different callings and one is judged by his faithfulness to his calling, not the level of prestige of the calling--and teachers shall receive the greater judgment. If one is God's dishwasher, he sees things in the light of eternity and lives for His glory--despite the occupation.
By way of application, we all must do some soul searching and examine ourselves whether we love to study the Word more than our daily routines or chores, and make sure we have the right priorities--would we rather do things for God or be with God? All believers are either Marthas or Marys and the choice is ours, and Jesus loves them both without partiality; however, Mary has chosen the better part. The problem with Martha was that she'd rather cook than learn from the feet of Jesus and she thinks that work is more important at that. Never be too busy for God! Soli Deo Gloria!
It's not that prep work is not important, or that Jesus loved Martha less, but that she had her priorities wrong and should've taken advantage of the opportunity--seize the day! Even though we must not be so heavenly minded we are no earthly good, one must love the Lord enough that it shows in our thirst for the Word. Some people are too busy doing work for the Lord, that they spend little time with the Lord (in devotion, prayer, fellowship, worship, and the Word).
Whatever we do, ought to be in the name of the Lord (cf. Col. 3:17), both the so-called mundane and spiritual functions and whatever we do, we ought to do to the glory of God (cf. Col. 3:23). Revered theologians have said that to work is to pray, if done in God's name. Bro. Lawrence wrote The Practice of the Presence of God to prove that even in washing dishes in a monastery, one could fellowship and enjoy God's blessing and company. I recall the bricklayer who said, when asked what he was working on, replied that he was building a cathedral. Our outlook and orientation to what we do affect our fellowship and faith.
If we are so busy that we have no time for the Lord, our priorities are wrong and we need to get them aligned and in sync with God. Balance is the key--it's true that all work and no play make a dull person; one must exercise his faith and exhale after inhaling the Word. Even the best students of the Word don't spend all their time in Bible study, but realize they must put it into practice--like James 1:22 said not to be mere hearers of the Word but does also. We need to apply what we know, even in the mundane and realize that we are rewarded according to our works, not our faith. We are to "bear fruit in every good work," as we "increase in the knowledge of God" (cf. Col. 1:10); 2 Pet. 3:18 (CEV) exhorts us to "... grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ...."
It's not that washing dishes or cooking is unimportant, but that one should never let our busywork crowd out our time with the Lord--there comes a time of practicing what we preach and turning our creeds into deeds. There comes a time of putting our faith into practice! Just like the saying goes: The faith you have is the faith you show! Like Paul appropriately said, "If any man is unwilling to work, he shouldn't eat" (cf. 2 Thess. 3:10).
Christianity is a very practical faith and not a mystical one that values people with their heads in the clouds or on cloud nine all the time, like the Eastern mystics who practice their piety before men with cloistered virtue. Preaching a sermon is no more a divine or spiritual a task than digging ditches if both are done to the glory of God--they just represent different callings and one is judged by his faithfulness to his calling, not the level of prestige of the calling--and teachers shall receive the greater judgment. If one is God's dishwasher, he sees things in the light of eternity and lives for His glory--despite the occupation.
By way of application, we all must do some soul searching and examine ourselves whether we love to study the Word more than our daily routines or chores, and make sure we have the right priorities--would we rather do things for God or be with God? All believers are either Marthas or Marys and the choice is ours, and Jesus loves them both without partiality; however, Mary has chosen the better part. The problem with Martha was that she'd rather cook than learn from the feet of Jesus and she thinks that work is more important at that. Never be too busy for God! Soli Deo Gloria!