I attended a talk at St. Andrew's Cathedral organised by the Radio Bible Class (RBC) Ministries - the organisation that brings us "The Daily Bread" devotional guide. The talk is for women but men are welcomed to attend. The theme was on "Making Choice Choices" and the speaker is Professor Alice Mathews. The teaching session is held over two days - Thursday and Friday at 7:30pm.
Some of you may be asking what does the theme mean? How come a same word appears twice? Well, in the English Language, the word "choice" has two meanings - one refers to a decision that an individual has to make; the other refers to excellence. In other words, the theme also means, "Making Excellent Choices." Just playing of words by Prof. Mathews.
Anyway, there were two sermons being taught and I would like to share the second one. I will try my best to make it as clear as possible.
The message was on Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) where many preachers like to use this passage to make a comparison - they always seemed to be preaching that Mary was doing the right thing and Martha was doing the wrong thing.
Today's talk debunks the right and wrong issue and I was deeply blest by the way Prof. Mathews explained it. What Martha did was not wrong - her actions were okay but it was her attitude that needed to be changed. In the midst of her doing, she allowed her busyness to get the better of her. In the end, it led to her feeling frustrated and discouraged when her work is not being noticed by others. On the other hand, Mary seemed to have made the right choice of sitting down to listen to Jesus. The speaker stressed that Mary did not choose the better but she simply chose what was good and beneficial.
Then Prof. Mathews led the congregation to the verse before this passage, found in Luke 10:27. She was correcting our understanding of service/ministry. The Mary and Martha analogy was about this very verse she pointed out.
She taught that in order to serve God, it is important for the individual to know Him first-hand and be blest by His Word. Only then will his attitude be right and that he can be more effective in his service.
The other lesson I learnt was this - service is not just about doing. When we choose to love God first as mentioned in verse 27 of Luke Chapter 10 and understand fully what His love is about, will we then know how to show love to others through our service/ministry.
We need to be a Mary first and then a Martha - let us choose to listen to God first and learn more about Him (Mary) and then after that, put to action through our service (Martha).
Many Christians run out of steam in their service simply because they are not communing with God enough daily through the reading of His Word and in prayer. Ministry and knowing God must run concurrently. The latter gives energy and sustenance to the former and when a Christian keeps doing that, his strength will always be renewed. He will also find joy in his service because he knows he is first doing for God and also doing it to bless others what he has been blest with.
Let us be both Mary and Martha in our service! That is a choice choice a servant of God can ever make.
I hope I make sense in what I have written above.
"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
"He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27
Some of you may be asking what does the theme mean? How come a same word appears twice? Well, in the English Language, the word "choice" has two meanings - one refers to a decision that an individual has to make; the other refers to excellence. In other words, the theme also means, "Making Excellent Choices." Just playing of words by Prof. Mathews.
Anyway, there were two sermons being taught and I would like to share the second one. I will try my best to make it as clear as possible.
The message was on Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42) where many preachers like to use this passage to make a comparison - they always seemed to be preaching that Mary was doing the right thing and Martha was doing the wrong thing.
Today's talk debunks the right and wrong issue and I was deeply blest by the way Prof. Mathews explained it. What Martha did was not wrong - her actions were okay but it was her attitude that needed to be changed. In the midst of her doing, she allowed her busyness to get the better of her. In the end, it led to her feeling frustrated and discouraged when her work is not being noticed by others. On the other hand, Mary seemed to have made the right choice of sitting down to listen to Jesus. The speaker stressed that Mary did not choose the better but she simply chose what was good and beneficial.
Then Prof. Mathews led the congregation to the verse before this passage, found in Luke 10:27. She was correcting our understanding of service/ministry. The Mary and Martha analogy was about this very verse she pointed out.
She taught that in order to serve God, it is important for the individual to know Him first-hand and be blest by His Word. Only then will his attitude be right and that he can be more effective in his service.
The other lesson I learnt was this - service is not just about doing. When we choose to love God first as mentioned in verse 27 of Luke Chapter 10 and understand fully what His love is about, will we then know how to show love to others through our service/ministry.
We need to be a Mary first and then a Martha - let us choose to listen to God first and learn more about Him (Mary) and then after that, put to action through our service (Martha).
Many Christians run out of steam in their service simply because they are not communing with God enough daily through the reading of His Word and in prayer. Ministry and knowing God must run concurrently. The latter gives energy and sustenance to the former and when a Christian keeps doing that, his strength will always be renewed. He will also find joy in his service because he knows he is first doing for God and also doing it to bless others what he has been blest with.
Let us be both Mary and Martha in our service! That is a choice choice a servant of God can ever make.
I hope I make sense in what I have written above.
"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
"He answered: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" Luke 10:27
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