Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40 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.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Introduction This story is about Martha and Mary, whose brother was Lazarus, friends of Jesus, whom He loved and spent time with. Raised Lazarus from the dead, Mary anointed Jesus for His burial.

Choosing the good part - how we choose to spend our time, what to do with our lives. How we express love toward God and others. How we handle it when we see how others decide to spend their lives and time, especially as we interact and try to work together.

1. Things need to be done v39-40

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40 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.”

a. Serving

b. Worshipping

2. We have choices to make about what to do, when, how v40, 42

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving

42 “... Mary has chosen that good part...”

3. We need balance

a. Giving and receiving are both valid

b. Serving and worshipping go together - Romans 12:1

NKJV
12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

NIV
12:1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship.

4. God receives our loving worship/service

5. Attitude of loving service v38-42

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40 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.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

a. Mary - seems to be calm, attentive, focused on Jesus, desire to learn and worship, but not being very attentive to her sister’s agenda of intensive hostessing.

b. Martha

Welcoming and serving

Distracted - from Jesus’ ministry to them

Worried

Troubled

Resentful - she was not really joyful in her service

Complaining

Critical - of Jesus and Mary

Gossiping

Manipulative

Burned out?

6. Service can become a destructive thing

a. If we attempt to serve without spending time at Jesus feet for instruction, strength, inspiration and direction.

b. If it causes problems in our love for God, if we get our eyes off of Jesus

c. If it causes problems in our love and respect for one another. No time for devotions, become resentful, angry, critical, judgmental toward others.

1 Cor 13
13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails.

7. Jesus says this is a huge deal v42

42 “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus was always having to tell people to leave Mary alone. Martha and Judas.

John 12:1-7
12:1 Then, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead.
2 There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him.
3 Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil.
4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, who would betray Him, said,
5 “Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and had the money box; and he used to take what was put in it.
7 But Jesus said, “Let her alone; she has kept this for the day of My burial.

8. Advice for Martha

Sit at Jesus’ feet

Be sure of your giftings and God’s calling, and when you are going too far

Serve with joy, wholeheartedly, as unto the Lord

Focus on what you are doing and not on what others are or are not doing. Let them follow Jesus, not your agenda.

Resist judgmentalism, criticism, gossip, manipulation, playing Holy Spirit

Know your limits, when you need to back off

9. Advice for Mary

Sit at Jesus’ feet

Help your sister

Conclusion

38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.
40 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.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
42 “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Have you chosen the good part God has for you in life and ministry? Are you being respectful of others, and letting God lead them to their own good part? Are you maintaining the balance of receiving and giving, of worshipping and serving?

Jesus wants us to be happy and joyful as we live and minister together, not stressed out, resentful, upset, critical of others. v42

Application to My Life