A Case Study On Busyness
Sermon Audio
Sermon Notes
Intro:
Today’s the last day in our series we’ve been doing called Rest-FULL, which is about learning to rest in a restless world, and I want to wrap things up by doing a case study on busyness. I want to do a case study on busyness, and talk about prioritizing our time, because our time is a limited resource. Our time is a limited resource, you can’t create more of it, you can’t get it back when it’s gone, you can’t Marty Mcfly it Back To The Future. But you can prioritize it and enjoy it...You can prioritize your time, enjoy your time, pump the breaks on your busy lifestyle that’s keeping you from enjoying some of the greater joys of life.
See many Americans are living such busy lives, they can’t even enjoy something as simple as sleep. The average person’s supposed to get 8-9 hrs of sleep a night, but we’re getting about 6. So a lot of us are waking up sleep deprived, and our days are so busy we need a quick boost to get us going. So we grab a cup of coffee, for some it’s cups of coffee, “Let’s make it a caramel macchiato so I can get a sugar rush. But make it a skinny, I’m watching my calories.” Then you hit an afternoon crash, it’s your body telling you it’s time to stop, but you can’t stop because there’s more work to do including homework or housework. So it’s more caffeine, drink a red bull, drink a soda big enough for a toddler to swim in...and the work doesn’t stop until you go to bed. Except you don’t go to bed because your technology, tv, and social media’s keeping you up causing this busy sleep deprived cycle to continue. So instead of reprioritizing our busy lives, we use stimulants to help push through our busy lives. Even if you don’t use stimulants, your busy life will keep you from enjoying your time, it’ll keep you from enjoying some of the greater joys of life, and that’s what we’re gonna talk about today. So let’s turn to Luke 10:38-42 and get into it. The title of today’s message is A Case Study On Busyness, and here’s the big idea. Busyness will rob you of some of the greater joys of life, if you don’t prioritize your time... Busyness will rob you of some of the greater joys of life, if you don’t prioritize your time...
Context:
Here’s your context. Our historical case study begins with Jesus making his journey from Galilee to Jerusalem, which is where he’ll eventually be crucified. It’s roughly a 2 month journey by foot, and along the way Jesus is working, teaching people, healing people, caring for people, and making disciples. But he’s also taking time to rest from his work. Jesus is working, he’s a hard worker, but he also took time to rest and enjoy his time with people, which we’re about to see in Luke 10. In Luke 10 Jesus is taking a break from his traveling work week, to rest and enjoy his time with two sisters named Martha and Mary. Let’s check it out.
The Word:
Luke 10:38-42 states this, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.” So Jesus has been traveling for close to two months now by foot. He’s not traveling by plane, he’s not traveling first class, business class, or even coach. He’s traveling by foot, and for those of you who have jobs that require you to travel, you know what this is like. By the end of your traveling you’re exhausted, tired of eating out, ready to go home, ready to eat a home cooked meal, sleep in your own bed, and have some down time. This is what Jesus must’ve been feeling after traveling two months by foot, and Martha does the hospitable thing, she welcomes Jesus into her house so he can rest.
Again vs. 38, “Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving.” So we have Mary sitting at the Lord’s feet, which back then meant to be discipled, to listen and learn from a great teacher. So Mary’s sitting at Jesus’ feet, she’s wanting to be discipled, to listen and learn from Jesus. But Martha’s distracted with much serving, she’s busy...Martha’s busy...She’s busy doing many things trying to make Jesus’ stay more hospitable. Now a lot of scholars say what we’re dealing with are two different personality types, we’re dealing with Mary who’s a Type B personality, and Martha who’s a Type A personality. So Mary’s the person who’s more relaxed, sitting, listening, focusing on simply BEING with Jesus, but Martha’s the person who’s more stressed, rushed, busy running around DOING things for Jesus. I don’t know if we’re dealing with two personality types or not, but what I do know is each of us will drift towards being more like one or the other, being more like Mary or Martha. So let’s real time this thing.
Imagine this is you, imagine you find out last minute that somebody you highly respect is coming over to eat and stay the night at your house, in this case it’s Jesus. So Jesus is coming, you have an hour to get the house ready, and some of you’d get all excited about it like Mary. You’d be like “Man this is awesome! We get to hang with Jesus tonight!” But let’s be honest, some of you’d start freaking out like Martha. You’d be like “The house is a wreck! There’s legos all over the floor, cheetos on the couch, I’m still in my sweats and haven’t even brushed my teeth yet!” Some of you’d start freaking out, turn into a drill sergeant, start barking orders at everyone, and turn dinner time into an episode of Hell’s Kitchen...Okay so listen, some of us are like Mary, some are like Martha, but we need to be careful not to think Mary’s personality’s good, Martha’s is bad, so we all need to be like Mary. It’s a mistake a lot of people make when reading this text, but the text never says what Martha’s doing is a bad thing. In fact the things she’s doing are all very good things. She’s loving Jesus, inviting Jesus in her home, doing whatever she can to serve and care for Jesus. It’s all good things, and Jesus created both personality types to serve different purposes in the world, he loves both the Mary’s and Martha’s of the world. Martha’s issue isn’t her personality, it’s that she’s not prioritizing her time, and it’s causing her to be distracted with busyness. She’s too busy DOING things for Jesus, instead of spending time BEING with Jesus. Her busyness is robbing her of the greater joys she can have, in spending time with Jesus. Busyness will rob you of some of the greater joys of life, if you don’t prioritize your time.
Again vs. 40 states, “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.” How many of you feel like this sometimes? You’re working hard in the house, or working hard to provide for the people in your house, and you wonder if anybody cares...You wonder if your spouse cares, your family cares, your roommate cares, if anybody cares about all the hard work you’re doing...This can even be true for those serving in a church. I mean we have people stepping in last minute to serve in guest services since we don’t have enough volunteers, some people missing church services to help in children’s ministry, and some even getting here as early as 6:30-7:00 in the morning to help us set up before everybody gets here. A lot of this work goes unnoticed, it goes uncelebrated, and it can lead you to wonder if anybody cares. Now like I said last week Christians are to work for Jesus, not the praises and approval of others, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have Martha moments where you wonder if anybody cares. You might even have a Martha like prayer where you cry out asking if Jesus cares, and here’s the good news...He does...Jesus does care...The good news about working for Jesus and having a relationship with Jesus, is he cares. He cares about Martha, you, and even the times when you’re distracted with busyness like Martha, because it’s robbing you of joy. Busyness will rob you of some of the greater joys of life, if you don’t prioritize your time. But Jesus cares about your busyness robbing you of joy, and here’s how we know. Listen to how he responds to Martha.
Vs. 41, “But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha...” Jesus repeating her name implies tenderness. He’s being tender in his response to her. It’s because Jesus cares...
Again vs. 41, “But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things...” Notice what Jesus says her busyness is doing, it’s causing her to be “anxious and troubled.” It’s what busyness does. It makes us anxious and troubled, it robs us of joy. But Jesus responds saying “Martha, Martha. You know I love you, you know I care. I care even about what your busyness is doing to you. It’s making you anxious, troubled, stressed out, and it’s robbing you of joy. So hit the pause button, do to the dishes later, and come sit with me. I want to fill your heart with joy again, because busyness is robbing you of joy.” Busyness will rob you of some of the greater joys of life, if you don’t prioritize your time. But Jesus cares.
Again vs. 41, “But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Jesus says Mary chose “the good portion,” meaning she chose to spend time with Jesus. She chose BEING with Jesus, instead of DOING a bunch of busy things for Jesus, and Jesus says that’s the good portion, that’s the better portion. Neither portion’s bad, both being with Jesus and doing things for Jesus are good things, but it’s being with Jesus that’s the better portion. It’s like eating a T-bone steak. Both sides of the T-bone are good, so I’m a happy guy regardless of the side I get. But the filet’s the good portion, it’s the better portion. In a similar way Jesus loves it when we spend time with him, and he loves it when we do things for him. Both sides are good, but the good portion, the better portion is spending time with Jesus in prayer, reading our bibles, listening to the words of Jesus like Mary.
Now just to be clear, this doesn’t mean you can go to your spouse, parents, or roommate saying “Sorry can’t help with the dishes. I need to spend time with Jesus like Mary.” You can’t say that, because Jesus isn’t saying you should be lazy and never work. He’s simply saying Mary prioritized her time better, spending time with Jesus is her greatest priority, and Martha needs to do the same. Martha needs to make BEING with Jesus her greatest priority, while not neglecting the importance of still DOING things to serve Jesus. So what about you, how’s your priorities?.. Are you so busy you haven’t been able to spend time being with Jesus, sitting at his feet praying, reading your bible, listening and learning from Jesus?..Are you so busy you haven’t been able to focus on doing things to serve Jesus, serve him in your home, your work, your neighborhood, city, or even your church?..Are you so busy you haven’t been doing either, you haven’t been spending time with Jesus or doing things to serve Jesus?..How’s your priorities?..I want to give you 3 things to help keep your priorities straight like Mary. It’s 3 things I personally need growth in, so don’t hear these things thinking I’m perfect at this because I’m not. My life looks a lot more like Martha than I’d like to admit, but it’s 3 things that can help keep your priorities straight, help keep busyness from robbing you of joy, help keep Jesus as your greatest priority.
#1 Live A Mary Life 1st, Martha Life 2nd = Live a Mary life 1st, Martha life 2nd, meaning spend time with Jesus like Mary, then spend time serving Jesus like Martha. Prioritize like Mary, then work hard like Martha. Practically speaking, try waking up early to spend time with Jesus praying, reading your bible, listening to worship music, sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary. Then remember to serve Jesus as you work throughout the day. One scholar put it like this, “God built this world to be a Mary world with Martha moments. But in Genesis 3 when sin enters the world, our work became cursed, laborious, toil, and turned into a Martha world. It caused us to now have to fight for our Mary moments.” Sin’s caused us to have to fight for Mary moments, and for those who aren’t morning people, your fight might be getting up in the morning. For those who are busy people, your fight might be pausing the to do list, until you’ve spent time with Jesus. We’re to fight to make Jesus 1st in our day, but don’t be legalistic about it, because sometimes our best moments at the feet of Jesus will come when we pause in the middle of a stressful day, not in the morning. Spending time with Jesus is more important than what time of day you spend with Jesus, and there’s always room to sit at the feet of Jesus, regardless of the time of day. The point is don’t neglect to spend time with Jesus, and living a Mary life 1st, Martha life 2nd, can help with that.
#2 = Create A Rule Of Life = Create a Rule of Life, which is a tool that can help you prioritize your busy life, and keep you focused on Jesus. It’s a tool a lot of the great theologians used like John Calvin. It’s where you divide your calendar up into 4 major categories of life: Prayer, Rest, Relationships, and Work. Then you put Jesus at the center of those categories, by praying and asking him how he wants you to live those categories out. In the words of one of our City Awakening staff members, “It’s not about planning your time with the Lord around your day, it’s about planning your day, around your time with the Lord.” Look not every task that comes your way needs to have your name on it. You can’t do it all, you’re not the world’s savior, but you can go to the Savior for help in prioritizing your life. In the back at our next steps table are copies of a handout that looks like this...It’s instruction on how to create a Rule of Life, and I’d encourage you to take a copy, have a Christian friend check your discernment after you fill it out, and gradually work your way into living it out. Then revisit it periodically or yearly to see if Jesus wants it changed. Don’t beat yourself up when you have a Martha moment, when you stumble to live it out, just sit at the feet of Jesus and pick it up again the next day. The point is Jesus loves you, he cares about your schedule, so plan and prioritize your schedule with Jesus. Ask Jesus what he wants you to do, then go do those things. A Rule of Life can help with that.
#3 Create Some Margin In Your Life = Create some margin in your life, meaning some gaps in your daily, weekly schedule for unexpected things to happen, because they will. There’s always gonna be days where unexpected things will happen, days where it seems like everything that can go wrong, does go wrong. If you don’t have any margin in your schedule, it’ll cause everything else to get backed up, and lead to even more busyness. Not having any margin in your schedule, will always lead to more busyness. I’d like to talk more about margins, but I didn’t leave any margin in this sermon...so let’s have the worship team come up, and get to the big idea.
The Big Idea:
Here’s the big idea. Busyness will rob you of some of the greater joys of life, if you don’t prioritize your time...Busyness will rob you of some of the greater joys of life, if you don’t prioritize your time...It’ll rob you of your health, you’ll have stress, depression, ulcers, anxiety and troubles like Martha...It’ll rob you of time with the people you love, time with your spouse, your kids, your friends and family like Martha. Eventually your kids will get older and move out, your friends will move away, some of the people you love will pass away, and you’ll wish you could get that time back, but you can’t. You can’t get that time back because your time’s a limited resource, once it’s gone, it’s gone...Your busyness, my busyness will rob us of some of the greater joys of life, if we don’t prioritize our time. But the greatest of those joys, the greater portion, is spending time with Jesus, who can give rest and peace to your restless, busy soul.
See the rest and peace Mary’s enjoying at the feet of Jesus, is a glimpse of the rest and peace we can enjoy with Jesus for all eternity. Just like Mary didn’t have to work for Jesus’ love, you don’t have to work for Jesus’ love. Just like Jesus freely gave Mary his love, Jesus freely gives you his love. Just like Jesus gave Martha an invitation, Jesus gives you an invitation. His invitation to the non-Christian is to repent of your sins, believe he’s God who came to die for your sins, so you can have an eternal relationship, eternal life, eternal joys in him. His invitation to the Christian is to rest from feeling you have to earn Jesus’ love, and remember to enjoy your relationship with him. To not forget the great privilege you have, in being able to sit at his feet anytime you want, and have peace like Mary. Mary was at peace...She was sitting at the feet of Jesus, and was at peace...There’s peace at the feet of Jesus...There’s peace, at the feet of Jesus... You can always find rest, peace, joy for your restless busy soul at the feet of Jesus...and just like Jesus invited Martha to sit at his feet back then, he’s inviting all of us to sit at his feet today. Let’s receive that invitation by having a Mary moment...Let’s have a Mary moment...Let’s sit at the feet of Jesus, take a few minutes to pray asking him to forgive us of our sins, and to give us peace in whatever anxieties and troubles we’re facing...Let’s sit at the feet of Jesus, have a Mary moment, and then we’ll sing.