July 12, 2010 Monday Message:

When Jesus visited the home of Martha and Mary (and Lazarus), they all showed love for him, and yet they did different things. Are you more like Martha, more like Mary, or perhaps more like someone completely different, someone not in our story? What about your church? Is it more like Martha, more like Mary, or does it have a completely different agenda? Unfortunately, some churches do. Let’s take a look.

For this discussion, let’s draw two columns on our yellow pad, and write Christian Life Agenda at the top. We’ll title the columns:
1. Things of God, and
2. Things of the World.

Into column #1, “Things of God,” put those principles of God’s unchanging character. The Bible and God’s teachings go here. The words of Jesus and his teachings belong here too. Write in things that truly matter to God, things of eternal significance, things where the Bible refers to God as the beginning and the end, the creator. Truth belongs here. These things are sometimes called substance, the prefix sub- pointing to the solid rock on which we stand, the foundation God provides. By the way, this is the only column that really matters! You should spend a lot of time here.

Column #2, “Things of the World,” contains all the things happening around you: your job, your family, friends and co-workers, appointments and meetings, these challenging economic times, where you live, what you drive, your hobby, what sports you play, what’s on TV/radio/facebook, email – you get the idea – all the “stuff” going on all around you. I’ve heard this referred to as your circumstances, and the prefix circa- means circle, as in things around you. If there were 3 rings, it would be a circus, and sometimes life feels like that! A lot of column #2 stuff is necessary to get by in this world, but most has no real eternal significance. You’ll need to spend a little time here, but concentrate on column #1.

From our Bible story, Mary fits column #1. There’s all manner of commotion as the household prepares for dinner guests, but Mary keeps her attention on the thing with eternal significance, Jesus himself. Martha, the consummate hostess, wants everything to be perfect, and gets caught up in circumstances. As a practical matter, preparing the dinner was important too, for that day. It just doesn’t have eternal ramifications. Dinner tonight isn’t as important as focusing on Jesus during his short time on earth. Always choose “Things of God” over “Things of this World.”

Some people might make a third column. A lot goes on in the world that’s made-up, fictitious or misguided, and God doesn’t like most of it. Our Lord detests false teaching. There are plenty of other religions, and they all have their agendas. But they’re all very “busy” doing “stuff” with no eternal meaning. It’s hollow. Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 Therefore everything else is false.

Even more deceptive are those who worship nature or the earth, worshipping the created things rather than the creator. On the surface, it seems that appreciating what God made would be a good thing, but God’s creations are not to be the object of our worship – God Himself is. See Romans 1:25

But the most deceptive of all are those who call themselves Christians and claim to teach the Bible, but instead have twisted the facts. They speak untruths with their mouths while standing in front of a cross and carrying a Bible. Unfortunately, mainline denominations are stepping into this column more and more often. So you don’t just need to know the name on your church building – you need to know what your pastor believes. All false teaching and deception go in column #3, and frankly, I hope your column #3 is empty. We are advised to disassociate ourselves from column #3 – quickly – for the sake of our spiritual well being, and for the spiritual well being of our children and grandchildren.

Solus Christus!

Norton Lawellin