“The Most Important Thing”

I read an article recently that said six out of ten parents of children ages 8 to 12 have bought their child a cell phone.  I also read that nine out of ten adults have a cell phone.  That’s amazing.  We think we can't go anywhere without a phone anymore, in fact we have even created a word for the fear leaving your cell phone behind, mobophobia. I wouldn't go so far as to say that cell phones are bad, but if we’re not careful they can keep us from paying attention to some important things.  For example, have you ever seen someone talking on the phone while driving?  That isn't very safe, is it?  Have you ever been talking to a friend when their phone rang?  What happened?  My guess is that they probably answered their phone.  That isn't very polite.  Have you ever seen a family enter a restaurant and as soon as they sat down, everyone took out their phone?   That's quality family time, isn't it?

In Jesus' day, they didn't even have phones, but that didn't keep them from being distracted.  Luke 10:38-42 tells a story about a woman who became distracted when Jesus was a guest in her home.  Jesus was in the village of Bethany where his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived.  Jesus went to their home to visit and Martha began to prepare dinner.  Her sister Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to the words he had to say.  The Bible says that Martha was distracted by all the preparation.  She became upset with her sister and went to Jesus to complain and make sure that Mary would help her.

"Martha, Martha," Jesus said, "you are worried and upset about many things.  But there’s one thing that’s the most important and Mary has discovered it."  Martha was doing her best to make Jesus feel welcome, but Mary had discovered something more important.  What was that thing?  It was sitting at the feet of Jesus and receiving his words into her heart.  Mary knew that to listen at the feet of Jesus was to receive from Him the faith in Jesus to believe in Him as our Savior who died to save us from our sins. 

It’s important for you and me to be careful that we don't get so busy "doing things for Jesus" that we forget to listen to his words and take them to heart.  Remember how the Apostle Paul reminds us that, “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Rom. 10:17)   That is the most important thing!