First Things First!
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin Articles, uncategorizedThere have been times in this writer’s working career where co-workers have displayed a lackadaisical attitude toward their work.
Such attitudes are why I usually find myself saying a few words in defense of Martha whenever I teach on Luke 10:38-42. You’ll recall that she was “distracted with much serving” (Luke 10:40), while her sister Mary did nothing but listen to Jesus.
It’s easy for me to see Martha’s point of view. In Proverbs, more than a dozen verses rebuke the slothful. And when some first-century Christians quit working and started to freeload off others, Paul laid down the rule: “If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat” (2 Thessalonians 3:10).
However, our approach to work must be balanced. Proverbs 4:7 KJV says, “Wisdom is the principal thing.” Martha could have said, “Mary, dinner can wait. I’ll join you in listening to Jesus before getting started in the kitchen.”
Work is vital. But we should not be so obsessed with it that it crowds out worship and spiritual instruction.
Brethren, let’s work hard (Ecclesiastes 9:10) — but let’s also keep first things first! (Matthew 6:33).