Could you do it? Could you make it through an entire week without watching television? Could you make it through a week without using your phone? How about a whole week without touching a computer, texting or tweeting, or for that matter, a week without using any technological devices? Unfortunately, for many that would be impossible. We have become a nation so addicted to these devices that it is nearly impossible to ignore the control they have over us. Research is now beginning to reveal some startling problems arising as a result of this addiction. Many young people today admit to their obsessions with cell phones and other gadgets, even to the point of checking for messages throughout the night.
Let’s switch gears. Could you do it? Could you give up prayer for a week? Could you last a week without worship? What about a week without reading your Bible? Do these seem a bit easier to do without than the devices first mentioned? Perhaps you can even remember a week when you actually gave up worship, and that was much easier than trying to make it a few days without TV. How sad! If this is the case, our priorities are upside down. Is it that much easier to do without the Lord than to give up our toys and treasures?
The story of Mary and Martha is a familiar story. These two sisters both loved their Lord dearly, and both wished to give Jesus their full attention. Yet their actions presented a very teachable moment for the Savior. Martha was concerned about “all the preparations that had to be made” (Luke 10:40). She was busy trying to be a superb hostess for the Savior. That was truly an honorable thing for her to do. Mary, however, “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said” (10:39). This bothered Martha so much that she came to Jesus and asked if he would step in and get her sister to change her priorities, at least until the meal was finished and they had eaten. But Jesus gently scolded Martha, teaching her a lesson about priorities. Mary had made the better decision at that moment because she spent her time on the one thing that was needed; the spiritual food she was receiving from her Master.
The priorities that Martha was following are worldly priorities that have no lasting substance. Our hobbies, our careers, our material things, our friendships, and our pastimes are not wrong in themselves, yet they are all secondary to our relationship with the Lord. Sometimes it helps to sit back and ask ourselves why we are here. The truth is that we are here because of God for God. That means that everything we say and do is ultimately connected to our Lord. To put God first in our lives, we must put him first in our hearts.
The Christian has three priorities in life. We might call them the three Ws. First is to worship God. That includes giving honor, reverence, prayer, confession, and thanksgiving. “I will sing praise to my God as long as I live” (Psalm 104:33). Second we are to walk with God. We should live lives that allow God to direct every step. “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (1 John 2:6). Third is to work for God. Being an ambassador for the Lord will always be a goal. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us” (2 Corinthians 5:20). Proper worship, walk, and work will set our priorities where they need to be. The Lord promises that when we have those priorities in our lives, “all these things will be given you as well” (Matthew 6:33).
One thing’s needful; Lord, this treasure teach me highly to regard;
All else, though it first give pleasure, is a yoke that presses hard.
Beneath it the heart is still fretting and striving, no true, lasting happiness ever deriving.
The gain of this one thing all loss can requite and teach me in all things to find true delight.
(from “One Thing’s Needful; Lord, This Treasure”)
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