Stephen Baldwin
NT: Luke 10-38-42
"Just Be"
My niece and
nephew in Florida really wanted to ride some new-fangled thing at the
mall. An animal ride or something. But their parents said no. “Too expensive. Just like every other ride. Not today.”
That weekend they were staying with their
grandparents, who didn’t know about the new ride at the mall and asked them,
“What do you want to do today?”
“Let’ go to the
mall and ride the new animal!” Which
they did.
Grandparents took
them home and parents asked, “What’d you do today?”
“They took us to
the mall, and we rode the new ride!” (kid’s laughter).
We all know that
lesson. If you don’t get the answer you
want from one person, go to another.
Children have perfected this over many generations between parents and
grandparents. But we also do it with our
co-workers and bosses and even with Bible stories. Don’t like what one passage tells you? Just find another with advice that’s easier
to swallow.
For example, last
week we read the Good Samaritan. Lesson:
Do everything you possibly can to help someone even if they’re your sworn
enemy.
Immediately
following that story comes the one we just ready today. Lesson: Stop doing so much and relax a
little.
Which is it? Do everything you possibly can to help your
neighbor…or sit back and relax? Was
Jesus that indecisive? No, answer lies
in verse 42.
In every
situation, there’s an important thing about which we should be concerned, and
it changes based on the situation. When
a man is dying on the road in front of you, the important thing is helping him
survive. Do everything you can. Spare no expense or effort. Help him!
Like today’s
story, when you’ve had a long day…or week…or three weeks…and evening arrives,
the important thing is to take a break and spend time together. Stop worrying and running around and doing
things. Just be.
We don’t know
exactly what’s going on that night.
Jesus is there with Mary and Martha, presumably with other
disciples. Perhaps they’re gathering for
a meal, or just resting for the night, or preparing for worship. All those options are good
possibilities. And Martha runs around
like crazy making sure everything that needs to be done is done. Most of us identify with her. Because we’ve all dealt with people like Mary
who just sit around when then the work needs to be done!
After the story of
the Good Samaritan, you would expect Jesus to affirm Martha for leaving no
stone unturned and working hard to be neighborly…especially while Mary just sits
there. Why doesn’t he? Because sometimes the important thing is
taking it easy.
Even though I am
the preacher, many of you have been preaching that message to me the past few
weeks! Take it easy. You can’t do it all at once. You can’t take care of anyone if you don’t
take care of yourself. I finally got it
Friday night. The workcamp from Ohio
gathered for their closing devotional, and they asked Kelsey and I to join
them.
As we sat down, my
mind raced with all the things I needed to do.
Like Martha. But I just sat
there, like Mary, and somewhere between the sitting and the listening and the
Holy Spirit, I finally realized how important it is to stop doing things and
just be.
In the social
services world, it’s called self care.
Taking care of yourself so that you can take care of others. It can mean something as simple as making
quiet time, exercising, eating right, saying your prayers, or sleeping
well. Those of us who are Marthas aren’t
very good at it. Amen?
Today’s world is
built on speed and activity and business.
We go go go, as if our life depends on it. But Jesus reminds us that sometimes our life
depends on slowing down.
Today is an
important time to learn from the Marys of the world and just be. Listen for God’s still small voice. Allow the Spirit to recharge you. Sit at Jesus’ feet. Ride the new thing at the mall, or its adult
equivalent, that is always on your mind.
There are lots if important things in the world. There’s always plenty of work to do. But this might just be time the most
important thing for us to do is just be.
Amen.
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