Last week we began a series of lessons on commitment, with the question: Where is your commitment?
We ended that lesson looking at some of Jesus’s words from the sermon on the mount where Jesus tells us what to commit to and what not to commit to, what not to worry about and what to seek above all else. Jesus’s teachings on the subject of commitment are filled with power and promises. He does not mince words. He says plainly, store up treasures in heaven where things last, not on earth where they don’t, and keep your focus on that which is light, not darkness. He tells us that no one can serve two masters… applying it this way: you can’t serve both God and money. Finally, we heard Jesus’s command and promise: seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the things you need will be added to you.
As we continue with this study on commitment, today let’s look at some things God tells us about over commitment.
Again, let’s consider three illustrations:
First: King Solomon. God gave Solomon wisdom and wealth and fame. But Solomon did something that became his downfall. He married 700 wives and had 300 concubines. I’d call that a serious case of over commitment, wouldn’t you? 1 Kings 11:1-6. In Ecclesiastes 7:26-29 he gives us this piece from his experience.
Second: The third soil in the Parable of the Sower. Luke’s gospel chapter 8:14 explains what the seed sown in the thorny ground means. “The seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go their way they are choked by life’s worries, riches, and pleasures, and they do not mature.”
These people are committed to too much! They can’t let go of the things of this world, but don’t want to let go of the things of heaven either. Theirs is the case of trying to serve two masters. 1 John 2:15-17 warns us: love not the world, nor the things of this world. If anyone loves the world the love of the Father is not in him. It is over commitment. Again, echoing Jesus words, “No one can serve two masters… you can not serve both God and money” That’s over commitment.
Third: Israel. When God delivered the children of Israel out of Egyptian bondage and led them into the desert He brought them to Mount Sinai and gave them the covenant of the 10 commandments. What is the very first commandment? You shall have NO OTHER GODS BEFORE ME. Don’t misunderstand that word “before” it doesn’t mean put the Lord God first and serve other gods after Him, it means NO OTHER GODS at all. What was Israel’s response to this commandment? Idolatry ruined them as a nation for generations. Commitment to more than one God is over commitment.
Over commitment causes us to do less, not more good for the kingdom of God. It can work in subtle ways as well as more obvious ones. Let’s look at one of the more subtle ways we can fall into over commitment.
Luke records an event in Jesus’ ministry where Martha invited Jesus and his disciples over for dinner. That’s 13 men. That’s quite a commitment for dinner, wouldn’t you say? Go with me to Luke 10:38-42 for this story. Keep your thumb there and also go to John 11.
We’ll look at this and see what we can learn a nuanced lesson about commitment and over commitment in it.
Martha is a faithful follower of Jesus. She is the sister of Mary and Lazarus. We meet this family a few times in the scriptures and it is obvious that Jesus was close to them. We don’t know how they met or just how their relationship grew, but a good guess is that Martha had a lot to do with it. Most notable about their relationship is the event we find only in John’s gospel, chapter 11, where Lazarus becomes sick and the sisters send a message to Jesus, hoping for him to come and heal their brother. Jesus delays going until Lazarus is already dead. Then when he does go to see them, by the time he arrives, Lazarus has been buried for four days. Martha hears that Jesus has come and she runs out to greet Jesus and tearfully says to him, Lord, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died. Then she goes further and reveals her faith saying, even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask. Turn to John 11:23 to pick up this story. (Read John 11:23-44)
Now, that event happened sometime after the event in Luke 10:38. Go back there now and let’s look at that.
(Read Luke 10:38-42)
In this story, Jesus mildly rebukes Martha, doesn’t he? In fact, Jesus speaks freely with Martha in both this event and the one in John 11. Martha seems to have a strong personality. She’s the one who invited Jesus and his disciples in for dinner. She’s the first one out to see him when he comes at Lazarus’s death, and she’s the one who speaks her mind to even Jesus at this first dinner.
Jenny and I talked about this and Jenny really sympathizes with Martha here. How many of you ladies would say that you share that sympathy, raise your hands?
Well, the problem Martha has here is not that she loves to work and serve, the problem is when she not only blames Mary for not getting up and helping her, but she comes to Jesus and blames him for not caring about it! Did you see that? Mary’s sitting and listening to Jesus is not what Martha has a hard time with, it’s that she’s sitting and listening to Jesus when there’s work to do in the kitchen and she needs help doing it and no one seems to even notice! Not even Jesus! I see this as a case of over commitment.
Over commitment can lead to unwarranted blame and accusation. Now there’s a time for blame and accusation, but not because I have bitten off more than I can chew. That’s a time for confession and a humble appeal for help. Had Martha humbly walked in and said, “I’m so sorry, but I have more than I can handle in here, is there anyone who would mind helping?” This event may have never been recorded in the Bible.
But Martha is a wonderful servant hearted follower of Jesus who has over committed and when she feels the pain of it all, is not ready to admit it, but is ready to scold the Lord for not caring.
We have a lot of committed workers in this congregation who fix food and serve at fellowship activities and clean up and make great things happen for us all the time! This church is blessed with lots of Martha type working servants. God gave us this gift and we need to be thankful and be aware of the ways those of us who are not Martha types can do our part. We have some Mary types here too, don’t we? Some who’d rather sit with Jesus than serve with Martha any day. Jesus commends Mary for her heart, but, let’s face it, most of us would rather go to Martha’s for supper wouldn’t we?
Jesus defends Mary here. He also defends Mary when Jesus is eating at their home another time, after Lazarus has been raised by Jesus. Two days before Jesus is arrested and crucified he and his disciples are again eating at their home and Mary comes to Jesus with a pint of pure nard in an alabaster jar that she breaks open and pours on his head, body and feet. Some of those at the dinner rebuke her for wasting such an expensive gift, but Jesus defends her again and says she has prepared his body for burial and that where ever the gospel is preached what she did would be told in memory of her.
Mary and Martha love Jesus. We never hear of Mary wrongfully blaming or accusing anyone. If she did, Jesus would speak to her as well.
Sooo… what’s the application? What do we learn about over commitment and proper commitment?
Commitment always needs to center on Christ. Commitment to serve needs to be conditioned by commitment to Christ so that we do it all for Him the best we can and we do it without blame and accusation toward those who do not join us as readily as we may think they should. Or when we see others that do not share our over commitment, we do not get our feelings hurt and operate out of that condition.
When we do everything we do in the name of Jesus Christ and as working for Him, we can avoid the pitfalls of blame and accusation that come from over commitment.
Over commitment in service happens when our serving loses its center on Christ and it causes damage to relationships instead of building up relationships. Faithful Christians who over commit to service may get discouraged and want to quit serving, or get their feelings hurt and blame others when they see others who are not doing what they think they should be doing the way they think it should be done. It is easy to hear the accuser whisper blame when our eyes are off of Christ and on others.
But that does not mean that lazy bones, and thoughtless Jones do not get addressed and corrected. Is there a place for those committed to service to call for helpers? Absolutely! And there is a great benefit in those gifted in service teaching and helping develop that gift in others. There is also a place to point out laziness or distraction in others who need to get to work. But it must be from a proper center on Christ and not from a self-centered position of over commitment that does more damage than good for relationships.
By the way, hospitality is hard work. All of us Mary's need to appreciate our Martha counterparts. It is interesting in scripture how many times the New Testament commands us to be hospitable toward one another, and Peter tells us to do it without complaining. Why? Because it is hard work and it can be expensive too. You have to buy the food, clean the house, make the meals, clean up afterwards, and all the while be nice! That’s not easy! Hey, it’s easy to be like Martha when you invite a pile of people over and work your head off and no one seems to notice how swamped you are in getting the food at the store, working in the kitchen before, during and even after the meal! Hospitable people need all the support and encouragement we can give them.
By the way, all of us need to be hospitable. Hospitality is not a suggestion in the Bible. It is a command.
Want to see? (slide with scriptures)
Why should you and I be hospitable?
God is a hospitable Father. He has prepared a great banquet for His church. He has purchased us with the highest price He could pay. It cost the very life of His beloved Son. He has thought of everything for us to have the greatest joy forever in His presence at this glorious feast.
You and I are invited to come.
Meanwhile, we are commanded to invite others to join us. He is committed to us, and He wants us to be committed to Him and not distracted by over commitments that do not bring about His purposes.
