While driving my daughter home from school one day, I was getting frustrated that a stop light was taking so long. She commented that she wasn’t excited to drive when she got older. We talked about that a bit, and I told her that while of course you have to be careful, driving is fairly easy. You just can’t let yourself get distracted.
In our story today, Martha is described as distracted. Jesus was teaching a group of people at her house, and Mary, Martha’s sister, was listening to him. Martha was doing what anyone would do when a group came to their home. She was making preparations to serve her guests. She was being a good host! But when she complained that Mary was not helping her, Jesus said Mary had chosen what was better. What did that mean?
Well, Martha was distracted by all sorts of things that had to be taken care of. And those things were good and maybe even necessary. But even good and necessary things can distract us from paying attention to Jesus.
Money, work, school, friends, and family are all good and necessary. But if we let them take priority in our lives, are we loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind? Today, when we have the Internet at our fingertips, and if we have extra income to spend as we like, discernment is needed, and we must be careful not to get distracted.
Are there any things in life—even good things—that distract you from following Jesus?
Lord, help us not to be distracted from keeping our main focus on you in all that we do. Amen.
About the author — Bret Lamsma
Bret Lamsma is Director of Faith Formation at First Church in Denver, Colorado, and has served churches in Michigan and California in youth, emerging adult, inter-generational, and educational ministries. Bret and his wife, Julie, have two children, and he enjoys hiking, disc golfing, and cheering for the Chicago Cubs.
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