Luke 10:38-42 portrays a contrast between two women who both love the Lord Jesus Christ. The contrast is made between the way they are prioritizing an event that is taking place in their lives… think about this for a moment.
If you search online about stress during the holidays… you will find articles on “Managing Stress”… “Tips for surviving the Holidays”…. Fox news had an article regarding “7 ways to Avoid Holiday Stress induced Acid Reflux”. And it doesn’t take long to realize that people view the Christmas season as having the more stressed attached to it than any other season.
And I can understand financial concerns… but there are the cards to send out, and the decorations to put up, and the things to do and the get-togethers, and the family that you may not get along with but you have to see during the holidays.
Have you ever been in a position around this time of the year, when you will just be glad when it is all over. The cards and the decorations and the presents and the shopping, and the wrapping and the money that is spent and the visits that have to be made…and “man I will be glad when this is all done”.
If that is you…and I have to admit, there have been years when that is me….but if that is you this year…you are not having a “Mary” Christmas, you are having a “Martha” Christmas.
So what is the difference…1) Mary was balanced….Martha was Busy. 10:39-40a
Some would have the impression that Jesus and the disciples showed up and Mary immediately went to the feet of Jesus and Martha was stuck doing all the work, and of course the thought is….well if Martha doesn’t do it then how is it going to get done.
But the solution to this thinking is found in that little word “ALSO”. It means that Mary was helping Martha and doing her part, and then when the Jesus began speaking, Mary sat down…and right here is the key…Martha allowed herself to be “Cumbered”… The word means as I mentioned distracted…it means that as you go to do one thing, two more things come to your mind to be done, and as you go to do those two things 5 more things come to your attention….you have seen the people that I am speaking of…they are always busy… it is a feeling that they are comfortable with. They are workers, they are comfortable working…but at times it is to the exclusion of the most important things….Christmas is about people…not events.
A Mary Christmas puts her emphasis on the Lord….Notice the difference….Martha welcomes Jesus into her home…Mary welcomes Jesus into her heart.
Has your emphasis this year been on the Lord? Do your Christmas cards emphasize Santa, or Christ…What about your decorations…What about in your gift giving. I know that so and so needs a new tie or a new sweater, but do they also need their own bible? What I am suggesting is that we not compartmentalize the holiday into the religious side and the holiday side.
What does it profit you to live your life for Jesus all year long just to follow the world at Christmas? And we do the same things and get caught up in the same mindset. Part 2 next week. May we use every opportunity to focus on Christ this Christmas.
