Remember the radio and tv program “Fibber McGee and Molly?” The most memorable thing is Fibber’s closet. For those too young to know or too old to remember, here is a clip showing that closet. [CLIP].
Too full, too disorganized, too careless. Needed a good cleaning out!
Sometimes our lives are like Fibber’s closet. Stuff piled on, crammed in, and shoved back.
We often have to get rid of something in order to make room for something else.
We need to do that regularly in our minds, hearts and lives. There are life cluttering habits, activities, desires, relationships and material goods. These may only be bad because of the space in our lives that they take up or because they crowd Jesus either to the back burner or entirely from our lives.
Jesus made room at the cross for you just as Gerald sang. He made room for you in His plan of salvation and has made room for you in Heaven. Since He made room for us in His death, let us make room for Him in our lives.
Luke 10:38-42. For this I am using the NASB.. We will see that Martha is the source of some good lessons. “Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord's feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.’”
I want to speak with you today about making room for Jesus. What do we need to do to make room for Him?
I. CLEAN OUT THE CLUTTER:
A. I am sure her house was in spic and span order – but her mind was cluttered by anxiety. Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary.”
B. Not all clutter is inherently bad – it might all be good stuff but it just becomes too much and too much more and then it is a hindrance and a bondage and it crowds out other things.
1. How quickly we accumulate stuff. It’s like walking through a muddy field – every step we collect a little more mud.
2. Items in our shed took a lot of space. Some of it didn’t work, or we didn’t need or use it anymore. So we got rid of a bunch of stuff through recycle, or give-away or tossing it in a junk pile! All that was innocent stuff.
C. But there is clutter that is inherently harmful and we need to get rid of it.
1. Some people, like Martha, clutter their minds with needless anxieties and fears. “What if (a sink hole swallows my house?” “ ... a snake is in my bed?” “... I’m hit by a tsunami at the coast?”). Could happen, but
a. Odds are against it.
b. Worry won’t prevent it.
2. Some people clutter their minds with immoral thoughts.
3. Some people clutter their minds with negative, dark, violent stuff.
4. Some people clutter their minds with too much speculation about useless stuff. “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” “Where did Cain get his wife?” “Did we exist in heaven before we were conceived on earth?” Does any of that matter?
a. Paul wrote, “have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;” 1 Timothy 4:7 (NASB).
b. He told Timothy, “instruct certain men not to teach strange doctrines, nor to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies, which give rise to mere speculation rather than furthering the administration of God which is by faith.” 1 Timothy 1:3-4 (NASB).
5. Some people clutter their minds with so-called “Christian Inspirational Books.” Now, I don’t want to sound judgmental or negative or know-it-all-ish but I do want to be clear that not everything claiming to be Christian is Christian. If they deny or contradict or wrongly apply the Bible they simply clutter our minds. For example:
a. The book that claims that if you pray the same prayer of Jabez, you’ll get the same results is salami. Here is that prayer, “Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border, and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" 1 Chronicles 4:10 (NASB) We are nowhere told to pray that prayer! Strange that Jesus didn’t repeat that prayer instead of the “Lord’s Prayer” when He taught the disciples how to pray. Maybe He didn’t know?
b. The books proclaiming that someone went to heaven and returned with freedom to reveal its sights and sounds are out of sync with Paul who said“I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak.” 2 Corinthians 12:2-4 (NASB).
D. To make room for Jesus, His Word needs to crowd out clutter. He has to be our main focus, so “if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2 (NASB).
1. Where amongst the clutter of our minds and lives is there room for Jesus?
2. We need to get real with Jesus and de-clutter.
E. Follow the example of one little girl in a Christian school. She heard about Jesus coming back and she immediately cleaned out her desk. She discarded wads of paper, worn out pens, broken pencils, candy wrappers – just clutter. She said, “If Jesus would come today I sure don’t want Him to see my messy desk.” To make room for Jesus clear out the clutter. He’s coming! Further,
II. MAKE THE MOST OF OUR MOMENTS:
A. Martha. who “was distracted with all her preparations,” spent time for Jesus but Mary spent time with Him. We will do more for Jesus if we spend more time with Jesus.
1. All of us sometimes become so busy with this and that, that we don’t have, or rather we don’t devote, room for Jesus in our schedule.
2. It is not that we don’t have time. It’s a matter of how we use time. Marlene and I try to save a little time by only mentioning the parts of our bodies that don’t ache!
B. I know, I know some of you work longer hours than some others. I know you get tired; come to Him for rest! But, we all live by 60 second minutes, 60 minute hours, 24 hour days and 7 day weeks, and so on. Consider:
1. “Only sixty seconds in a minute but eternity is in it”
2. “Procrastination is the nemesis of productivity.” The NIV says “A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing.” Proverbs 20:4 (NIV).
C. Paul advises us: “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Ephesians 5:15-17 (NASB).
D. A song says, “Time has a way of making us old and time can’t be bought back with silver and gold.” Can’t buy it back but we can use it while we have it! Time comes moment by moment – some waste it, others make the most of it by:
1. Helping someone along the way.
2. Investing comfort in the sorrow and loneliness of others.
3. Sharing faith with a loved one.
4. Setting a good example of Christian living.
5. Spending time daily with our Heavenly Father.
E. Charles Francis Adams, a 19th century political figure and diplomat, kept a diary. One day he entered: "Went fishing with my son today--a day wasted." His son, Brook Adams, also kept a diary, which is still in existence. On that same day, Brook Adams made this entry: "Went fishing with my father--the most wonderful day of my life!" The father thought he was wasting his time while fishing with his son, but his son saw it as an investment of time. Jesus never considers it wasted time when He spends it with us – how do you feel about that?
Martha would have made better use of the time learning at His feet. Mary made room for Jesus by investing her moments in fellowship with Him; so may we. Until we take time with Him we won’t make room for Him. Bill Gaultiere said, “There is no room for Jesus in our hearts when we’re rushing around, pushing to get more done, and trying so hard to make people happy.” Let’s make room for Jesus by making the most of our moments. Furthermore,we may need to
III. ADJUST OUR ATTITUDE:
A. Martha didn’t do anything wrong. Preparing something for Jesus was a good thing, but in doing it she developed a “tude!” She was miffed. She was becoming more irritated by the minute. Her attitude was snippy and self-pitying.
1. She complained, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
2. She was doing good, but Mary was doing better.
3. Mary did something with Jesus and enjoyed His company.
4. Martha did something for Jesus and went all “poor-me” in attitude.
B. There are negative attitudes and positive attitudes; unhealthy attitudes and healthy attitudes; ungodly attitudes and godly attitudes.
1. Unhealthy attitudes include:
a. Grudge bearing.
b. “Poor Me! Nobody likes me, everybody hates me, I guess I’ll go eat worms!”
c. Smug, conceited, superior, arrogance.
d. Hyper-critical, Pharisaic, narrow-minded judgmentalism.
e. Bigoted, racist, prejudicial hate.
2. Healthy attitudes include:
a. Benevolent generosity.
b. Gracious, merciful treatment of those who wrong us.
c. Optimistic, hopeful peace of mind.
d. Humble, willing obedience to Jesus.
C. We adjust our attitude, negatively or positively by
1. What we think about and what kind of stuff we stuff into our brains.
2. Who we allow to influence us.
3. Putting ourselves in the other fellow’s place.
4. Learning to be content with what we have and not coveting someone else’s things.
D. Attitude matters because
1. Attitudes determine direction.
2. Attitudes affect our relationships.
3. Attitudes influence our feelings.
4. Attitudes draw people in or crowd people, and even Jesus, out.
E. To make Him room, we may need to adjust our attitude. One old guy had a reputation for greed. He took and never gave. But he ended up in the hospital and nearly died. But the that made him wake up and smell the coffee. His neighbor visited him daily and quietly prayed for him. He survived and when he got out of the hospital, he showed up at church. Didn’t put in any money though. But as weeks passed, he was moved by the Word and the Holy Spirit. He gave his life to Jesus, was baptized and became a new man. His attitude changed from greed to generosity. One day he learned ab out a needy family and since he had a smokehouse he had several nice hams being smoked. He decided to give a ham to the family and as he entered the smokehouse, the thought came, “Just give a little one.” After hearing that voice in his mind several timed, he said, “Satan! If you don’t leave me alone, I’ll give them every ham in this smokehouse!” His new attitude made room for Jesus.
Every day we need to make room for Jesus. Daily we should get to know Him, learn from Him, and walk with Him.
Jesus is waiting; why not take that step that brings you into step with Jesus from now to eternity! Pray / invite
