Listen; if I am not mistaken I can not remember going to a grocery store since I became an adult.
But as I got inside I had no idea where the bread was. I walked all over the store and finally found the section that had the bread. That was not an easy job because there were all kinds of bread on the shelf. I finally grabbed one hoping it was the right kind.
As I was walking out I saw a display of Pomegranates seeds and I knew my wife liked them so I picked one of them up but as I looked at it I did not know if it was ripe or not.
So finally I had to choose, so I chose it like I did with the bread, I picked up one hoping it was the best one.
I tell you this story because LIFE IS MUCH LIKE MY EXPERIENCE IN THE GROCERY STORE….TRYING TO CHOOSE THE BEST.
And I am convinced with all my heart that if a person is going to CHOOSE THE BEST IN THIS LIFE HE HAS TO CHOOSE TO HAVE THE RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH CHRIST.
Illus: A famous actor was invited to a dinner party. After the main course, the actor was asked if he would be willing to recite a piece of poetry for the guests.
The actor readily agreed and asked if someone at the dinner table would like to suggest what he should recite.
There was a deadly hush until an old clergyman raised his hand and said: “May I ask you to recite the 23rd Psalm?”
The actor was rather taken aback but agreed, saying: “I will recite Psalm 23 - if you will recite it once I am finished”.
The clergyman rather reluctantly agreed. The actor then recited the 23rd Psalm with as much passion as he could arouse.
His voice was perfect. His modulation was flawless. The audience was spellbound. When he finished, he was met with rapturous applause.
The old clergyman then stood up and recited the 23rd Psalm. But his voice was rough and broken from many years of preaching. His diction was anything but polished. But when he finished there was not a dry eye in the room.
Then the actor got up from his seat came over and put his arm around the clergyman and said: “Ladies and Gentlemen, I know the 23rd Psalm. This man however knows the Shepherd of the 23rd Psalm.”
Jesus is the Great Shepherd – and the actor hit the nail on the head
Choosing to have the very best that life has to offer is all about having the right relationship with Christ.
And the story in our Scripture reading from Luke’s Gospel today of Martha and Mary illustrates this.
Only God knows how many sermons have come from the life of these two sisters.
It is always amazing how a family like this can have two sisters who are so different:
• They had the same parents.
• They were raised in the same environment.
But yet they were so different.
Illus: It is the same when it comes to church. Two people can attend the same church, hear the same sermon and one will go home empty, the same way he came, and the other one will go home praising the Lord.
However, when it comes to these two sisters we can be grateful for their differences because it is their differences that teach us so many things about serving the Lord.
Let’s take a good look at these two sisters. I would like to show you THREE things in this story about them.
First, let’s look at-
I. THE SAVIOUR
Notice, when the Lord entered the village of Bethany the Bible talks about a “Certain woman” and then the Bible tells us this certain woman was Martha that invited Him into her house.
Look at verse 38. We read, "Now it came to pass as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house."
The Bible tells us specifically that MARTHA RECEIVED HIM INTO HER HOUSE.
Perhaps the reason that Mary did not have a part in inviting the Lord into the house may have been because IT WAS NOT HER HOUSE.
From what we read in the scriptures it is safe to assume that Jesus came to the house of Martha.
What is significant in this verse of scripture about Jesus entering Martha’s house?
We often find in the scriptures Jesus went in many homes.
• Matt. 8:14 Jesus went into Peter’s house.
• Matt. 9:23 Jesus went into the Rulers house.
• Luke 7:36 Jesus went into the Pharisees house.
• Luke 8:51 Jesus went into the house of Jairus.
• Luke 14:1 Jesus went into the house of one of the Chief Pharisees
• Luke 19:5 Jesus went into Zacchaeus’ house.
The Lord went into many houses but there is some evidence in the scriptures He felt more welcome in Martha’s house than all the others.
Notice, in this passage of scripture….
A. JESUS WAS AN INVITED GUEST
Illus: It used to be that when a guest evangelist came to preach in a revival meeting he would stay in the home of the pastor or one of the church members of that church. They now are placed in a nice motel.
But guest evangelists will tell you that as they travel the country and visit many homes, there are some homes that they have entered that were very special.
It was indeed a special honor for Mary and Martha to have such a distinguished guest. They recognized the honor, and treated him
as a special guest.
Of course the house in Bethany where this took place is no longer there. But if it was the tour guide would say, “THIS IS WHERE MARTHA’S HOME ONCE STOOD.”
What made this place so significant was that this was a place where the Lord Jesus once stood. If it wasn’t for Him this place would not be significant!!!
What makes a visit to the holy land special is as you walk on some of those streets in Jerusalem perhaps you are aware that you are standing on the very ground that the Lord Jesus once stood.
What made this place where Martha’s home was located significant was one such place.
When something significant happens we can always remember what we were doing when it took place.
For example, many can tell you the place they were at when:
• President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
• When Elvis Pressley died.
They remember the place they were at because these are significant things people can remember.
• Many of us can tell you the day the Lord came into our hearts and we remember the place where it took place.
• Many of us can take you to the place where they first met their wife or husband for the first time.
And if we have the Lord Jesus dwelling in our hearts, it should be obvious to us and everyone that He dwells there.
However, we all know people who profess to be Christian but judging by the way they live you cannot help but to question their profession.
HOW CAN PEOPLE RECOGNIZE THAT THE LORD JESUS ABIDES WITHIN US?
Is it a sin to judge others?
The answer to that question is yes, and no!
It is yes it is a sin to judge others when we are doing the same sins they are doing.
Matthew 7:1-5 says, “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.”
Of course it is wrong to judge others of doing evil and we are doing the same thing.
However, just because we shouldn’t judge, doesn’t mean we should not be able to tell if others know the Lord.
We do not have to guess about whether or not someone is saved. The Lord made it clear how the world can know we are saved.
Matthew 7:16-20, “Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
HOW DO WE KNOW THIS IS A FALSE TEACHING?
1) In Matthew 7:15-20 the Bible tells us to “Beware of false prophets”. How can we beware of them if we do not judge them? And today we have more false prophets than ever before. They almost completely control so called Christian television.
2) Because God’s Word tells us “WHEREFORE BY THEIR FRUITS YE SHALL KNOW THEM.”
3) God’s Word tells us to REPROVE. How can we reprove someone for sin if we do not judge them to be someone to REPROVE.
The Lord said you can tell that Christ dwells within a person’s life by the fruit they bare BASED ON THE WORD OF GOD.
Illus: The Lord Himself judged some to be HYPOCRITES!
The Bible gives us a list of fruits we should bear in Galatians chapter 5. There are 9 of them:
• Faithfulness
• Self-Control
• Patience
• Goodness
• Gentleness
• Joy
• Kindness
• Peace
• Love
The Lord says it is just as clear as that, “A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.”
It should be OBVIOUS that the Lord Jesus dwells within us because we are bearing all nine of the fruits of the Spirit.
For example, in the New Testament we read where it was obvious that the Lord Jesus spent time in the home of some of His disciples.
It had an effect on them.
Look at Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
People took knowledge of them because they had been with Jesus. In other words they spent time with Him and He rubbed off on them.
If the Lord truly dwells in your heart the world in which we live will take notice that the Lord Jesus lives in our heart.
DOES JESUS ABIDE IN YOUR HOME?
• Is he the silent listener in every conversation?
• Is He the unseen guest at every meal?
It is not only by the things that we have ADDED to our homes that we show HE DWELLS THERE, but also by the things we have SUBTRACTED FROM OUR HOMES IT IS OBVIOUS HE DWELLS THERE.
For example, when some folks know company is coming, they make major changes because of necessity.
In other words they want their company to come into a clean house and give the impression WE ALWAYS LIVE LIKE THIS but when the company leaves, they go back to their old untidy way of living and doing things.
This is the way it is with some folks, when they attend church they may act HOLY but when they leave church it is a different story.
They want to make a good impression, but once they are not around Christians they immediately go back to their old, sinful life-style.
Have you ever noticed this as you talk with some people how they change.
Illus: For example, have you ever talked with someone who told a dirty joke, but when he found out that you were a born again Christian he immediately started talking about the Lord Jesus?
Illus: people like this remind me of a Chameleon – they change their “colors” to match their environment.
There are some folks who will fuss and cuss all week long but once they come to church and they are among Christians all of a sudden they become “Holy Joe”!!!
There is a word for people like that, they are HYPOCRITES!!!
We have too many today, who make temporary adjustments for the sake of convenience. They give the impression that the Lord lives in their hearts, but as soon as it is no longer convenient, they go back to their old paths.
In Bethany, there was always a godly home available to the Lord Jesus. The Lord could visit this home at any given moment, and He would find this was a home where He was loved seven days a week, twenty four hours a day.
JESUS WAS AN INVITED GUEST, but also-
B. JESUS WAS AN INTIMATE GUEST
There is no doubt that the Lord loved these people. In fact, the Word of God tells us He did in John 11:5, “Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.”
It is always nice to hear that someone loves you.
Illus: Dr. Odell Belger tells the story of how each morning before he goes to his office he goes by and checks on his sick brother. One morning after he checked on his brother a neighbor walked over to him and he said, “I just want you to know that I think you and your wife are wonderful people.” And then he went even further and said, “I love both of you!”
It is always good to hear that someone loves you. And the Bible tells us Jesus loved Martha, Mary and Lazarus.
Jesus was an INVITED GUEST and He was an INTIMATE GUEST.
• They loved Him deeply.
• He loved them dearly.
Illus: G. Campbell Morgan tells about how his father visited his home shortly after he was married. His father walked into their house, and began looking around. He walked through the house, peering into every room, and then said, "Yes, all very nice. But nobody will know by walking through here whether you belong to God or the devil!"
Morgan says that he made up his mind, that from henceforth, there would be no room in the house that did not have some message, in picture or book, that would tell every visitor that here is a home that is serving the King.
It is a marvelous thing to have the Lord Jesus dwell in our hearts, but it should be obvious to everyone that He does abide there.
It doesn’t take long after you enter a home, to be able to tell if the folks there love the Lord.
Also, it does not take long for folks to be around us for them to tell that Jesus lives in our lives and we love Him deeply!!!
Illus: We are told even dogs know if we love them or not!!!
We all should want our homes to be another Bethany for Jesus.
We took a good look at THE SAVIOR, but now let us look at -
II. THE SISTERS
Notice, how the Bible refers to these two women…
• Vs.38 “A certain woman named Martha..”
• Vs.39 “And she had a sister called Mary..”
They were sisters, but they were different.
HOW WERE THEY DIFFERENT?
A. MARY WAS A WORSHIPPER
Look at verse 39. We read, “Mary . . . sat at Jesus feet, and heard His word.”
In the East, the expression, "sitting at someone’s feet", had two significant meanings.
(1) It was indicative of worship.
(2) It was indicative of discipleship.
Both of these describe Mary. She was a WORSHIPPER and a DISCIPLE of the Lord Jesus.
Mary sat at the feet of Jesus often.
Look at:
• Luke 10:39, she, “...sat at His feet and heard His word.”
• John 11:32, she, “..fell down at His feet...”
• John 12:3, she, “...anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair:...”
When you entered this home, you could tell that Mary was one who worshiped the Lord.
She wanted to get as close to the Lord as she possibly could.
This was also the craving of the apostle Paul.
Look at Phil. 3:10. We see this so clearly as he said, “That I may know him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, ....”
I think Paul’s desire is also expressed in the life of Mary, who was often found at the feet of Jesus.
Mary was a worshipper.
But let us look at the other sister. We see-
B. MARTHA WAS A SERVANT.
To her, SERVICE was the most important thing, not WORSHIP.
Look at verse 40. We read, “But Martha was cumbered about much serving.”
She was busy; she could not do enough.
Illus: Martha would be like those who say, “I love the Lord but I do not have time for prayer, Bible study and worship.”
Maybe such a person should sit down and think about what he is doing with his life. Maybe it is time to get off of this merry go round!!! When we are too busy for the Lord Jesus we are TOO BUSY!!!
Mary was SITTING, Martha was SERVING.
• A description of Mary would be: "How close can I get to Jesus,"
• A description of Martha would be, "How much can I do for Jesus."
Thank God for the “Martha’s” in the Church. If we didn’t have WORKERS, nothing would ever get done.
Thank God for those people who work, visit, teach, call others, help in the Nursery, work with young people, etc.
Illus: An old preacher preached one Sunday morning from Matthew 4:24, “They brought unto Him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases.”
The preacher said, “Now, the doctors can scrutinize you, analyze you, and sometimes cure your ills, but when you have divers diseases, then only the Lord can cure you.”
For example:
• Some dive for the door after Sunday school is over.
• Some dive into a list of excuses for not working for the Lord.
• Some dive for the car, and take a trip over the weekend.
• Some dive for their nickels and dimes, when the offering plate goes by.
• Some dive for the door as soon as the minister gives the invitation.
Our churches are filled with people who are afflicted with “Diver’s disease”, and only the Lord Jesus can cure them.
The church cannot get along without the “Martha’s”, but who ever said you could not WORSHIP GOD and WORK FOR THE LORD AT THE SAME TIME?
We have looked at:
• THE SAVIOR
• THE SISTERS,
Now let us look at-
III. THE SITUATION
Beginning in Vs. 40, we see Martha getting upset with her sister.
Martha was SERVING and Mary was SITTING, and it led to this scene in the home.
Look at-
A. THE CONCERN OF MARTHA
Look at verse 40, we read, “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, ‘Lord, doest Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.’”
When we are working for the Lord, it is easy for us to look around and see others who are not, and become discouraged.
Illus: Someone said, “I can see Martha, with her face all sweaty, a bowl in one hand, and a spoon in the other, working just as fast as she can. She wonders, ‘Where’s Mary?’ She hollers, ‘Mary, where are you? I need you.’ She passes by the kitchen door and looks into the living room, and there is Mary, sitting at Jesus feet. She seems to come unglued for a moment, ‘Mary, what are you doing. Can’t you see that I need you in the kitchen.’ ‘Jesus, don’t you care that Mary is making me do all the work. Tell her to get up from there and come here and help me get this food ready.’"
The word "cumbered", means: To be distracted. To be dragged apart.”
We would say, "Pulled in two different directions."
Illus: Some fellas took Dr. Odell Belger coon hunting. He had never been coon hunting and they promised him if he would go with them all four of them would go to his church the next Sunday, so he went with them. When they got into the woods they turned their dogs loose. It wasn’t long before one of the dogs had spotted a coon and the race was on. When the men arrived at the tree four dogs had already arrived and the coon was up in the tree peeking down at them. The hunters took turns shooting at the coon. Finally, one of the hunters shot and the wound was deadly and the coon fell out of the tree and all four dogs grabbed that coon. Each had a leg and they were all going in four different directions.
This is the way it was with Martha she was PULLED IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS.
Martha was a very agitated, frustrated, and anxious woman. Martha did not have control over her work - her work had control over her.
She was like so many today - it does not take very much to get some agitated.
When we are "cumbered about" in God’s work, it reveals itself as it did in Martha’s life.
1. SHE WAS RESENTFUL. (with her sister): She was griping about Mary. However, THE PROBLEM WASN’T WITH MARY, IT WAS WITH MARTHA.
SHE WAS RUDE. (with her Savior): She was making a very serious accusation against the Lord. She said, “…Lord, doest Thou not care,,,”
Illus: As a parent how would you feel if your child said to you, “You do not care a thing about me!”
She was insinuating that she was the only one who cared about the real needs.
We looked at THE CONCERN OF MARTHA, let us look at-
B. THE RESPONSE OF JESUS
Look at verses 41 42. We read, “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
When Martha came to the Lord, He dealt with her anxiety problem head on. He said, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things."
Look at the word “careful”. This word means “anxious.”
The same word is used in Phil. 4:6, “Be careful for nothing.” It speaks of being worried.
In other words, DO NOT LET ANYTHING WORRY YOU!
You can rest assured when we allow something to worry us it is not of the Lord.
Some people think the only reason God placed them here on earth, was to WORRY. AND THEY ARE GOOD WORRIERS!!!!
Illus: Archbishop Trench was a great New Testament scholar. But there was a time in his life that he became possessed with the fear that the limbs of his body were going to lose all feeling. He worried all the time about losing feeling in his limbs. One night he was sitting at an elaborate state dinner, and all of a sudden, he blurted out, "Oh, it finally happened. It’s finally happened. I haven’t got a bit of feeling in my right leg."
The lady sitting next to him said, "Your grace, if it will be any comfort to you, it’s my leg you are pinching!"
Much of what we worry about never happens!
Look at what the Lord said to Martha. "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful."
Martha is troubled about many things. Let me point something out, Martha is doing something the Lord never asked her to do.
A lot of folks are troubled because they are carrying a load the Lord never asked them to carry.
But notice, her complaint against Mary was not that she did not ever do anything, it was because she was not doing anything when Martha thought she should be doing something.
Look at verse 40. We read, “Lord, dost Thou not care that MY SISTER HATH LEFT ME to serve ALONE?”
SHE IS BOSSING THE LORD AROUND
Martha’s complaint was that Mary had been working, but when she saw the Lord come into the home, she ceased WORKING and started WORSHIPING, and left Martha to work ALONE!
Now evidently when Martha and Mary saw the Lord it became decision time.
• Martha thought she would bake a pie!
• Mary thought she would sit at the feet of Jesus.
The Lord wanted Martha to know that Mary had made the right decision.
Look at verse 42. We read, “Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Mary was A WORKER, but she was also A WORSHIPER.
She knew she needed to work, but she also knew she needed to worship.
Conclusion:
Jesus wanted:
• Martha’s COOKING.
• But He also wanted her COMPANY. She needed to serve, but she also needed to sit.
God’s word to the SINNER is, “ONE THING THOU LACKEST.”
God’s word to the SAINT is, “ONE THING IS NEEDFUL.”
I. THEIR SAVIOR
II. TWO SISTERS
III. THE SITUATION
