Jesus says if we seek the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, then "all these things" will be added (Matthew 6:33). C.S. Lewis has a famous quote that says the same thing in different words: “Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: Put second things first and we lose both first and second things."
If we believe this, then why is it we tend to continue to seek, strive, compete, worry, and be distracted in our lives and in our relationships? Why is our culture overwhelmed and under rested? Why is anxiety on the rise in our culture - even among our children? Could we be doing violence to our culture, our families and in our own souls, all the while thinking we are doing “good” things? Consider this quote by Trappist Monk, writer and theologian Thomas Merton:
There is a pervasive form of contemporary violence to which the idealist most easily succumbs: activism and overwork. The rush and pressure of modern life are a form, perhaps the most common form, of its innate violence. To allow oneself to be carried away by a multitude of conflicting concerns, to surrender to too many demands, to commit oneself to too many projects, to want to help everyone in everything, is to succumb to violence. The frenzy of our activism destroys our own inner capacity for pace. It destroys the fruitfulness of our own work, because it kills the root of inner wisdom which makes work fruitful.
INVITATION: As we enter the well known story of Mary and Martha this week, consider how this scenario might annoy you, or perhaps get under your skin. After all, Martha was doing good and kind things. They were things we would all say were “right” and would commend her for: she was serving, she was helping, she was showing hospitality. Yet Jesus pretty much “calls” her on her on it. He knows what is going on internally within Martha. It was “violence” and he knew it was not ultimately good for her. Jesus wants the best for us. Scripture has much to say about slowing down, “sabbath”, rest, peace and other words that are the opposite of what we see in Martha in this story. What about you? Is there “violence” in your inner world? Are you getting caught up in the cultural “badge of honor“ of being busy all the time? Could the pattern set by Mary be helpful for you this week? Pastor Adam points out the pattern from scripture is to: 1) choose, 2) sit, 3) listen. How can you apply these three steps in your life and schedule this week? Conversely, Martha’s pattern was: 1) distracted, 2) worried, 3) upset. How can you choose FIRST THINGS this week rather than default to Martha’s pattern?
MONDAY: Luke 10:38-40: Put yourself in Martha’s place. You have worked hard to offer the Lord hospitality and a good meal. You have used all the skills you have and are providing a feast that is fitting for your honored guest. Hot and tired, you feel annoyed when you see Mary just sitting at Jesus’ feet. You ask, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?” You are thinking “Am I the only one who does anything around here?”
Let Jesus address you lovingly and personally today in your prayer time. Use the words from this story: “ __________ , you are worried and upset about many things.” Tell Jesus what “the many things” bothering you are. Place them at the feet of Jesus. How might your days look differently if you made this a practice every morning? How might it affect your internal and external striving and worry? Are you willing to consider how much “me” might be involved in your attitude? Note in these verses all the “me focus” that Martha had: “MY sister has left ME to do the work by MYSELF. Tell her to help ME!” What if part of the reason for your fatigue, distraction and overwhelmed feelings are actually caused by a focus on self? Is there an invitation from God in all this? Maybe your internal “violence” is actually an invitation to something different?
TUESDAY: Luke 10:41-42: Martha was worried and upset about “many things” but Jesus says “only one thing is needed.” How much simpler would your life and daily schedule be if you focused on the ONE THING mentioned in Matthew 6:33, i.e. “the kingdom of God and his righteousness.” What started as dedication for Martha turned into irritation. Has that ever happened to you? You start a project or a day with good intentions and good dedication, but end up irritated because things do not go as your internal movie reel thought they would or should. Theologian Dallas Willard points out in his “Life Without Lack” book that: “One good way to check our motives when doing something for the Lord is to see how sweet and patient we can remain when it does not go the way we want it to. If we believe we are acting out of love toward someone, but we become angry if the other person does not reciprocate, that indicates there is something beyond love motivating us. When something like that happens, we surrender again, saying, “Lord, here it is; I made a mess of it. I need your help.” Paul said, “I die daily” (1 Cor. 15:31). We must do the same. Even though we cannot do it alone, dying to self is still something we do.”
As you look back and recollect times you may have moved from good intentions to irritation, how much of the “me monster” may have gotten in the way? What were your priorities as the day played out? Pastor Adam pointed out the word PRIOR implies: "what comes first?” What in your life comes BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE? What is your priority as you begin each day? Each week? Each new year?
WEDNESDAY: Psalm 27:4: What do you seek each day? How can you begin each day seeking out time with God and surrendering your life and your day to Him? Is there a practice you might put in place to do a few “hard stops” during the day to re-seek and re-commit to God? How might this affect your days and your internal “violence?”
THURSDAY: Matthew 22:36-38: Jesus says the “greatest commandment” is to love the Lord and love your neighbor. That can be considered the FIRST THING in a life following God. It’s the bottom line of the bottom line in walking daily with Jesus. How can this play out and translate into small pieces in your life and in your days? What spiritual practices can you put in place to make growing with and walking with Jesus a priority in your life? Things don’t change overnight and God is NOT in a hurry. Many people refer to the “slow work of God.” It is a process. It leads to the title of the book already referenced by Dallas Willard, “ Life without Lack.” Putting the things of God first leads to such a life. What small piece can you begin with TODAY? Start with where you are right now, don’t try to make a huge, unattainable goal. Begin small and the Lord will be faithful in growing your heart, your capacity and your desire for more of Him and His ways. Pray for him to work on and change your priorities, then perhaps you can even visualize turning those over into His care?
FRIDAY: Colossians 3:1-2 (Message): These verses tell us what to do “if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ.” What do you think it means “to look up?” Other places in scripture tell us to focus on what is “unseen” and not what is seen. In fact, that is how we don’t “lose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Have you ever felt like you are “losing heart?” Could it even feel like “violence?” How can you see with spiritual eyes this week and keep your focus on the “unseen” and “look up” as opposed to looking only at yourself?
SATURDAY: 2 Corinthiains 11:3: Satan doesn’t usually come in a red costume carrying a pitchfork. Scripture tells us he is often “an angel of light” (2 Cor. 11:14), and seeks to “steal, kill and destroy” (John 10:10). Many minds are “led astray” by simple busyness. It can even be a life of being busy doing “good” things…..maybe even church things. Consider, however, what you are called and moved by God to do. Consider also your true motivations for doing such things? Could satan be using his “cunning” in your life to lead you astray from what this scripture calls “pure devotion to Christ?” Do you regularly pray for God to freely “search you and know your heart?” (Psalm 139). Many people also find it helpful to pray/recite what is known as the “armor of God” scriptures as they dress each day. They are from Ephesians 6:10-18 and are:
Belt of truth
Breastplate of righteousness
Feet fitted with the gospel of truth
Shield of faith
Helmet of salvation
Sword of the Spirit (Word of God)
Could these prayer ideas help you sit at the feet of Jesus this week? We’d love to hear from you as you seek to do that in your life and in your schedule! How has it helped the “violence” that can overtake your heart, soul and mind? Respond to our blog, or on our Facebook page where this Ten Minutes With God is posted each Monday morning.
May you experience LIFE WITHOUT LACK this week and in the coming weeks.