What Is Your Priority?

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Luke 10:38-42

"Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, you were worried and upset about many things, (42) but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

 

 

1

To begin with, I like to ask you the same question. Can you still remember what you learned last Sunday? The answer is the meaning of communion. Communion is for remembering Jesus. We learned about two disciples of Jesus’ who gave up their faith in Jesus three days after Jesus was nailed to the cross and passed away. They thought that Jesus was a supernatural being so that he might turn over the Empire of Rome. Interestingly, Jesus did not use his supernatural power in opposition to Rome. Instead, Jesus used it to help people in need. Anyhow, they decided to leave Jerusalem, which means that they turned their back to Jesus. They tried to forget Jesus. However, when they saw Jesus breaking bread, giving thanks to it, giving it to them, they remembered Jesus. As a last remark, I told you that when you grow up, you might leave this church, turning your back to Jesus and thinking coming to church is childish. That is OK. But, remember that when you are in a trouble you cannot resolve, you may meet Jesus. Jesus would help you to remember who he is to you.

 

2

With that being said, let us move to today’s Bible story. Well, when I was a newborn baby, my only jobs were eating, sleeping, peeing, and pooping. Oh, there was one more: crying. Because I did not know how to interact with my mom, I just cried when I need some help from her. When I was a child, more jobs were assigned to me. I went to kindergarten, met new friends, and learned how to interact with them. When I was an elementary schooler, more jobs were given to me. Particularly, homework. I came to know the gravity of tests and exams. When I was a middle schooler, I opened my eyes about myself. As you know, adolescence changed my body along with my voice. I needed to adapt to the rapidly changing myself. When I was a high schooler, I faced the first biggest decision-making process – college. When I was in college, I faced the second biggest decision-making process – how to serve my country and your parents’ mother country South Korea as a Korean Army, a Korean Air Force, or a Korean Navy. When I met a woman who is now my wife, I faced the third biggest decision-making process – do I have to marry her or not? As you see, life is full of decision-making processes. Right now most of what you do is decided by your parents. What Hakwon you go, what sports you learn, what kind of books you read, and even what church you attend – mostly your parents make decisions for you. However, I am certain that sooner or later you need to learn how to make a decision in a given situation. Today’s Bible story is about decision-making process. When you read it, you will see two sisters: Martha and Mary. Please pay attention to what decision they made differently.

 

3

The story is simple. One day Jesus visited a house where two sisters Martha and Mary lived. When Jesus sat and began talking to others, Mary came to Jesus and began listening carefully to him. That is, Mary decided to listen to Jesus. Martha, Mary’s sister, however, made a different decision. Martha decided to cook food for Jesus and others in her house. While cooking, however, Martha became irritated and upset because she felt it was unfair that while she was working, Mary her sister did not do anything, except listening to Jesus. Martha came to Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

 

4

Jesus answered, “While you were worried about how to prepare food and how to listen me at the same time, Mary clearly made a decision to solely listen to me. Because you hesitated between making food and listening to me, you lost two. On the contrary, Mary, your sister, simply decided to listen to me and she is doing it now.” Guys, today Jesus talks us the meaningless of hesitation. Because when you hesitate between two, you lose them all. To avoid hesitation, what is necessary is priority. When you are given more than one jobs at the same time, don’t be like Martha. Please be like Mary. Find what the most important is among given options and stick to it. Can you hear me? 

 

 

Prayer

God, today from Jesus we learned the importance of finding what is really important to us when more than one option are given to us. We like to behave like Mary, not Martha. God, help us to keep in mind this. We pray in your name Jesus Christ. Amen.