“But see first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33
Selling a house can be challenging, but the real work begins when the cleaning-out process to prepare it for the new owners begins. My sisters and I have had the opportunity to experience that process recently after selling our Mother’s home. Anyone who has done it will tell you it is an emotionally and physically exhausting task, and I completely agree with that sentiment. Especially in a situation like ours, where the house was lived in for many years, and the occupants were from the depression era. Numerous books have been written about cleaning out, and one recently gained the attention of millions. Marie Kondo is a professional organizer whose goal is to keep only items that spark joy. I am not a Kondo method follower; I have my own method for prioritizing what stays and what goes. Every day we have to make choices that prioritize our daily tasks, and we should do the same with our possessions.
The story of Mary and Martha unfolds starting in Luke 10:38. Mary and Martha were sisters of Lazarus, the man Jesus raised from the dead. The three siblings were close friends of Jesus, and he visited their home in Bethany often. One day Jesus and his disciples stopped in for a visit, and while Martha busied herself preparing a meal for her guests, Mary sat at Jesus’s feet, listening to His words. Frustrated, Martha questioned Jesus, asking Him whether He cared that her sister had left her to fix the entire meal. She told Jesus to order Mary to help her with the preparations. All I can say about this part of the story is that they must have been really good friends for Martha to think she could tell Jesus what to do! Jesus, in His gentle nature, replied to the frustrated request with, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but few things are needed-or indeed only one. Mary has discovered it and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42). There is so much to be gleaned from Jesus’s response. Martha is often vilified, and Mary is praised, but I do not believe that was Jesus’s intent. The point of the passage is about making Jesus and His word our first priority. The Lord knew prioritizing our time and possessions would be an issue for humanity, especially in today’s culture. And did you catch the little phrase, “but few things are needed”? That can definitely speak to our culture of consumption.
So often, we get lost in the distractions of life. Will all the Marthas now reading this tidbit raise your hands? Yes, God sees all those hands. All the beautiful hands of service to God, family, friends, careers, etc., are needed, but we must not lose sight of what we should treasure most. And that is time with Jesus, in quiet contemplation at His feet in prayer and in His word. As I was sorting through numerous overstuffed drawers and cabinets, I had to prioritize and decide if it was treasure or trash. What is distracting your attention from Jesus today? Clean out the clutter, make Jesus your priority, and you will find treasure. And that’s your Tuesday Tidbit.
The picture was of my beloved Granny on Christmas morning in 1974. A photo I had never seen before. Definitely a treasure.