Strong Relationships
Devotional Contributor: Al Schierbaum
Scripture:
Luke 10:38—42 “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me." But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."
Observation:
The start of any good relationship is to, “welcome” the other person or people. To welcome is to, openly and gladly, invite someone into your space or life. Webster’s defines welcome, “to greet someone in a warm and friendly manner… to receive gladly one’s presence in relationship or companionship”. To welcome someone in or be welcomed in, is a beautiful thing. When you drop everything and give a person full attention they feel honored. In our passage we see that Martha opened the door to Jesus, but Mary dropped everything and gave Him full attention. Jesus felt welcomed by both Mary and Martha, but Martha was too busy with tasks that she was missing out on an opportunity to know Jesus.
In John 11, Jesus went back to Bethany, where they lived, to comfort Martha and Mary when Lazarus died. After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, Jesus returned to their home for dinner. At the dinner, Martha was still being Martha by serving but was now letting Mary be Mary. (John 12:1-6). The first encounter with Jesus, Martha complained to Jesus about Mary’s lack of help because she wanted to listen to Jesus. This time, Martha embraced Mary’s act of worship and extravagant sacrifice. Martha now knew, that being with Jesus, was most important. Jesus appreciates all types of people, but what He wants from all of us, is our full attention.
Application:
The Martha’s of the world might have to work a little harder at giving people and Jesus full attention based upon their task and expectation driven personality. All personalities are different and needed, but to build good relationships, personal time and attention is needed. People want to be known and accepted. If you build a big wall around your life then people will not feel welcome. Walls are meant to keep people or things from entering. Walls can come in the form of busyness, being standoffish, negative body language, avoidance, and intimidation. One of the biggest walls may be the feeling of having to measure up, in order, to enter. Some people Impose such high expectations, that everyone they know eventually falls short and are no longer welcome. When people feel like they cannot enter in they will stay at a distance. God, people, and the Bible will remain for eternity, make sure you give each one your full attention. If you do, you will be rich for all eternity.
Request:
Dear Lord Jesus, I am sorry for letting the things of this world get in the way of getting to know you and others. I will make a conscious effort to give You, people, and the Bible my full attention. I will start by giving You my full attention because you are my Savior and Lord. You are the King of all the universe, and I want to know You! Amen