ICS Daily Devotions
Running the Rat Race
Luke 10:40-41 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.
Running the rat race in real life is pictured as a hamster running on treadmill nonstop. Overtime, the person will be physically, mentally, and emotionally drained out. Working and living in a fast-paced city requires us to keep our focus on God and heed his voice – so that our lives are well balanced with His wisdom. To keep pedaling on the treadmill so we can keep up with the current pace of our culture will eventually burn us out.
Jesus knew many people would be tempted to live a life like the little hamster on a spinning wheel. It’s not about how fast we can pedal but how long we can last.
This passage of Martha identifies with many of us today that are feeling worried and troubled, anxious, distracted by serving, always busy with urgent things, and not having much time to settle down to the do the important things. Martha is gently rebuked by Jesus for interfering with his teaching to vent her frustration and says: “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help.” Martha was frustrated with the inactivity of Mary, while she had to keep herself busy with the worldly business of meeting up with people’s expectations.
Martha, indeed, demonstrated great hospitality to her important guest. However, she lost perspective by being engaged in the affairs of the world instead of providing true hospitality that is filled with love and joy. Her demeanor revealed her resentment to her sister. In the business of her life, she focused on the secondary needs and missed out on the “One Thing” that was needed from her – which was to sit down at Jesus’ feet to listen and pay attention to his teachings. She forgot the main reason why she was serving in the first place.
Is our work for the Lord causing us to be anxious and troubled? How do we live out a balanced lifestyle? The million-dollar question is how do we spin all plates at one time. We are a child of God, a spouse to someone, a parent to our children, a corporate man, and a servant of God. People who base their identity on their busy schedules have created a perfect formula for disaster. Many people and families have such hectic schedules that they’ve neglected going to church altogether and spending time with God alone.
For instance, some people put their job, soccer, football, hobbies, travel, sleep, personal projects in the slot originally reserved for God alone. Martha belongs to this category of people and Jesus advised her against it. Jesus says to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, all these shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). There will be grace and blessings that will be extended to us when we seek God first.
Grace for the pace is a supernatural deposit or endowment of inner strength, gifting, ability, know-how, understanding, knowledge, and favor which first leads us to salvation and helps us stand in victory and serve God.
The only one thing that God requires of us is that we spend time to pray, read the Bible, and share our faith with others. When we take the time to sit at the feet of Jesus, can you imagine how much more He would provide for us: our family quality time would be blessed beyond measure; our service for Him would be strengthened; we would study our lessons more efficiently; and our business would run more smoothly – this is the supernatural grace of God if we are careful not to get distracted from the divine purpose of our life.
Sermon Series: Grace for the Pace
