Pride looks to what we have accomplished to establish our sense of worth. Patience looks to what we have received from Christ to know that we have worth. When Martha received Jesus into her home, she attempted to establish her worth in Jesus’ eyes through all her preparations. Thus Mary’s failure to help her and Jesus’ apparent lack of concern for Mary’s laziness was seen by Martha as undermining her worth as a person. Martha learned from that encounter. This time she was not focused on any preparations. She was free to focus on Jesus and what he desired to bring to her life at that moment. What she got was the love of Christ and a reaffirming of her faith in Christ. What a different Martha we see.
Grace is favor given even when there is no merit to earn that favor. Grace looks solely to the merits of Jesus earned for us at the cross. Grace gives us worth apart from what we have done or will ever do. Patience is simply living out this gift. Patience allows this gift to unfold in our lives under its own terms. Patience is impossible without the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives because it does not come to us naturally. That is why Paul calls it a fruit of the Spirit. When the Spirit is allowed to produce this fruit in our lives, others see our tremendous worth. That takes us to our last point.
When Jesus visited Martha’s home, she capped the evening with some very harsh words about her sister. Her goal for the evening had been to serve. Pride turned the evening into a frustrating disaster for her. It is a much different Martha who leaves Jesus this time and goes back to her sister. She calls her sister aside from all the other mourners and tells her of Jesus’ arrival. She refers to Jesus as “The Teacher.” When Jesus visited her home, he had come as teacher. This was quite and honor since his students were women. Teachers in Jesus’ day did not teach women. This time Martha had learned from the Teacher and was eager for her sister to receive as well.
When patience is at work, the stress level drops because the concern is no longer on what I want to do. Instead the concern is what does Jesus want me to receive and how does he want me to share it with others. Jesus taught this kind of patience by the example of his own ministry. He came not to be served but to serve (Matt 20:28). His life was focused on what his Father had given him and lived according to how that best could be shared with the world. For Jesus, that meant the cross. While he was on earth, he never used his power as the Son of God for himself. He used it in service to God and to us.
Through the working of the Holy Spirit, Jesus promises to work that kind of patience in each one of us. As we practice this fruit in our lives, we come to appreciate more deeply the love and the power of God.
Showing posts with label 7 deadly sins. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 7 deadly sins. Show all posts
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
PATIENCE 3
Pride builds a fortress of sticks. A strong wind or a careless fire and its gone. As a result pride is always fearful of the unforeseen and must always control those around it lest they carelessly destroy what it has built. Pride wishes to present a good face to the world through its acts of charity but lives with the knowledge of just how hollow that face is. Pride believes only in itself thus has worry as its high priest. Such is the insecurity of pride.
Patience invites us to shift focus from pride to the one who gives genuine security. In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus showed his power over life and death. “I am the resurrection and the life…whoever lives and believes in me will never die,” says Jesus. How do you find greater security than that? Patience can afford to be patient because it knows who has the final say about life and death. Patience knows it can risk love because it is ultimately and always loved by Jesus. Patience invites us to not only confess our sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing but it urges us to stop for a moment and reflect on the great mystery of this high love Jesus has for us. This reflection gives perspective on life.
Reevaluation leads to reaffirmation. What a beautiful testimony Martha gave to who Jesus was. Her testimony showed tremendous insight into Jesus and his mission in this world. She saw him as the “Christ,” the Anointed or Chosen one, whom God had sent to save her people.[1] Martha also recognized that in Jesus she was seeing no ordinary man. He was also the “Son of God.” In Jesus God had taken human flesh to fulfill God’s plan to save the world. This Jesus would rescue her brother from death. She was safe putting Lazarus in his hands.
Patience enables us to reaffirm our faith in Jesus as the Christ. As Martha’s loss found resurrection in Jesus, so too our losses find new life. Christ gives us the power to turn our deepest needs over to him. We need not attempt to control or manipulate but simply receive what Christ will give confident of his power and goodness.
[1] The title “Christ” means “Anointed One”. Priests and kings were installed into office by having scented oil poured over their heads. The title “Anointed One” came to summarize for Israel her hopes that God would send one who would ultimately rescue Israel.
Patience invites us to shift focus from pride to the one who gives genuine security. In raising Lazarus from the dead, Jesus showed his power over life and death. “I am the resurrection and the life…whoever lives and believes in me will never die,” says Jesus. How do you find greater security than that? Patience can afford to be patient because it knows who has the final say about life and death. Patience knows it can risk love because it is ultimately and always loved by Jesus. Patience invites us to not only confess our sins and receive forgiveness and cleansing but it urges us to stop for a moment and reflect on the great mystery of this high love Jesus has for us. This reflection gives perspective on life.
Reevaluation leads to reaffirmation. What a beautiful testimony Martha gave to who Jesus was. Her testimony showed tremendous insight into Jesus and his mission in this world. She saw him as the “Christ,” the Anointed or Chosen one, whom God had sent to save her people.[1] Martha also recognized that in Jesus she was seeing no ordinary man. He was also the “Son of God.” In Jesus God had taken human flesh to fulfill God’s plan to save the world. This Jesus would rescue her brother from death. She was safe putting Lazarus in his hands.
Patience enables us to reaffirm our faith in Jesus as the Christ. As Martha’s loss found resurrection in Jesus, so too our losses find new life. Christ gives us the power to turn our deepest needs over to him. We need not attempt to control or manipulate but simply receive what Christ will give confident of his power and goodness.
[1] The title “Christ” means “Anointed One”. Priests and kings were installed into office by having scented oil poured over their heads. The title “Anointed One” came to summarize for Israel her hopes that God would send one who would ultimately rescue Israel.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
PATIENCE 2
In Luke 10 when Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, her motive was to exchange good hospitality for his affection. It ended in disaster for Martha. This encounter is much different. Like the visit to her home, she is upset and disappointed by Jesus’ apparent inattention to her need. This time, however, she presents her need and her feelings without the anger and frustration present before. Her focus was on Jesus not any preparations. She was free from the tension of “Let’s make a deal.”
Spirit-produced patience moves us beyond the need to bargain with Jesus for what we want. Before it does that it first enables us to be honest with God about why we want what we want. The role of confession is vital at this point. Daily confession is not for the purpose of rehashing our sins. Its purpose is to provide a setting for an honest look at what motivates our actions. We then take responsibility for our sinful motives and actions. God responds by forgiving our sin for the sake of Christ’s payment for our sin on the cross. Not only does he forgive us but also he goes on to purify the motives of our hearts (1 John 1:8-9). All this the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to prepare us to bring our requests to God.
When Jesus visited Martha’s house, she had an issue with Mary and her failure to help her in the kitchen. But it was Jesus who caught the brunt of her anger. Martha had failed to establish healthy boundaries. Her preparations took her to the point of exhaustion and total frustration rather than to service. Her worrying and stewing over Mary’s failure to help and Jesus’ apparent lack of concern led her to be very rude to her house guest. Her outburst brought a reprimand from Jesus.
The fruit of patience brought a different Martha to Jesus this time. Instead of anger and frustration demanding that Jesus take action, Martha patiently presented her need concerning her brother. Once our motives have been clarified and purified through confession and forgiveness, we too will find that our emotions do not have as much power to force us beyond healthy boundaries whether in our relationship to God or to others. Patience helps us to seek not merely what is right from our perspective but to receive from God what is righteous in his eyes. Patience helps us recognize when we are pushing ourselves too far. Patience shifts our focus from self and self-pity to Christ and his love for us.
In this brief exchange between Jesus and Martha, we can sense that Martha genuinely accepts Jesus’ words of comfort. Pride is always suspicious of the motives of others. It always reads into others’ words of comfort and affection its own selfishness and ambition. It ultimately robs us of the very thing we desperately seek, which is the love and affection of others.
Patience given by the Holy Spirit produces much different fruit. It recognizes that not everyone will express affection the way we might. It is willing to give others the benefit of the doubt when they do not respond to our acts of affection the way we think they should. It rejoices in the moments of intimacy we are given with friends and loved ones. It enables us to let go of times when we are unappreciated. Patience always reminds us that our worth is in the one who died for us and rose again to give us eternal life. His first motive in dealing with us is always love.
Spirit-produced patience moves us beyond the need to bargain with Jesus for what we want. Before it does that it first enables us to be honest with God about why we want what we want. The role of confession is vital at this point. Daily confession is not for the purpose of rehashing our sins. Its purpose is to provide a setting for an honest look at what motivates our actions. We then take responsibility for our sinful motives and actions. God responds by forgiving our sin for the sake of Christ’s payment for our sin on the cross. Not only does he forgive us but also he goes on to purify the motives of our hearts (1 John 1:8-9). All this the Holy Spirit works in our hearts to prepare us to bring our requests to God.
When Jesus visited Martha’s house, she had an issue with Mary and her failure to help her in the kitchen. But it was Jesus who caught the brunt of her anger. Martha had failed to establish healthy boundaries. Her preparations took her to the point of exhaustion and total frustration rather than to service. Her worrying and stewing over Mary’s failure to help and Jesus’ apparent lack of concern led her to be very rude to her house guest. Her outburst brought a reprimand from Jesus.
The fruit of patience brought a different Martha to Jesus this time. Instead of anger and frustration demanding that Jesus take action, Martha patiently presented her need concerning her brother. Once our motives have been clarified and purified through confession and forgiveness, we too will find that our emotions do not have as much power to force us beyond healthy boundaries whether in our relationship to God or to others. Patience helps us to seek not merely what is right from our perspective but to receive from God what is righteous in his eyes. Patience helps us recognize when we are pushing ourselves too far. Patience shifts our focus from self and self-pity to Christ and his love for us.
In this brief exchange between Jesus and Martha, we can sense that Martha genuinely accepts Jesus’ words of comfort. Pride is always suspicious of the motives of others. It always reads into others’ words of comfort and affection its own selfishness and ambition. It ultimately robs us of the very thing we desperately seek, which is the love and affection of others.
Patience given by the Holy Spirit produces much different fruit. It recognizes that not everyone will express affection the way we might. It is willing to give others the benefit of the doubt when they do not respond to our acts of affection the way we think they should. It rejoices in the moments of intimacy we are given with friends and loved ones. It enables us to let go of times when we are unappreciated. Patience always reminds us that our worth is in the one who died for us and rose again to give us eternal life. His first motive in dealing with us is always love.
Friday, June 12, 2009
PATIENCE 1
Most Christians are familiar with Jesus’ visit to Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Many are not aware of another visit to these same women (John 11:20-28). This visit was under very different circumstances. This visit was occasioned by the death of their brother Lazarus. Here we meet Martha again but this time a very different Martha. On this visit she models the very essence of the fruit of the Spirit called patience.
The story begins with Lazarus dying. An urgent message is sent to Jesus to come and heal his friend. Strangely he waited two more days before going to his friends. By the time he arrives, Lazarus has been in his tomb for four days. It is too late. Yet the sisters waited for Jesus. When he arrives, Martha is the one who goes out to meet him. This is where we see the Spirit shine in Martha’s life.
John tells us, “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him.” What a different picture we see of Martha from Luke 10. Here she goes out to meet Jesus, not clean the house, serve a meal, or fuss over all the preparations. She goes to sit at Jesus’ feet as Mary had done earlier. She goes to engage him about her brother’s death. She goes to see him and he alone is the focus of her attention.
Patience is often portrayed as sitting and waiting. Patience is much more active than that. When we are engaged by circumstances that challenge our patience, the first step is not to simply sit and wait. The first step is to bring our hurt and concern to Jesus. He is the one to give our problems proper perspective. He is the one who can solve them. He is the one to whom we need to give our undivided attention. Patience begins by study of the Word and struggling with that Word in prayer and reflection. There the Spirit draws us. There is where Jesus meets us.
The story begins with Lazarus dying. An urgent message is sent to Jesus to come and heal his friend. Strangely he waited two more days before going to his friends. By the time he arrives, Lazarus has been in his tomb for four days. It is too late. Yet the sisters waited for Jesus. When he arrives, Martha is the one who goes out to meet him. This is where we see the Spirit shine in Martha’s life.
John tells us, “When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him.” What a different picture we see of Martha from Luke 10. Here she goes out to meet Jesus, not clean the house, serve a meal, or fuss over all the preparations. She goes to sit at Jesus’ feet as Mary had done earlier. She goes to engage him about her brother’s death. She goes to see him and he alone is the focus of her attention.
Patience is often portrayed as sitting and waiting. Patience is much more active than that. When we are engaged by circumstances that challenge our patience, the first step is not to simply sit and wait. The first step is to bring our hurt and concern to Jesus. He is the one to give our problems proper perspective. He is the one who can solve them. He is the one to whom we need to give our undivided attention. Patience begins by study of the Word and struggling with that Word in prayer and reflection. There the Spirit draws us. There is where Jesus meets us.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
PRIDE 8
Here are some questions for you to see how pride may be at work in your life based on Martha's story in Luke 10:38-42.
How true is it of you that you must give in order to get (v. 38)?
How often do you feel a sense of entitlement because of all that you have done for others (v. 39)?
How frequently do you feel you must put the needs of others ahead of your own (v. 40a)?
How hard is it for you to acknowledge your own hurt and ask for help (v. 40b)?
How true is it of you that you have to earn the affection of others because love is not simply given?
How do you react to the criticism of others (v. 41)?
How do you react when someone is selected for a position you expected to fill or promoted in your place (v. 42)?
How do you react when another’s gifts seem greater than your own?
How hard is it for you when others don’t seem to notice or care when you’ve done something good for them? How hard is it for you to take credit when you’ve done something good for others?
How do you feel when others identify with your weaknesses or problems by relating them to their own?
Monday, June 8, 2009
PRIDE 7
One direction Martha could have taken with Jesus’ words would have been to tell herself that she really was less that Mary. It would not matter how hard she tried, she would never please Jesus. Pride is a cruel master. It takes away all sense of worth and dignity.
Jesus, however, was trying to tell Martha that she really was valuable. She was just going about finding it in the wrong way. Jesus wanted her to examine what it was that he found valuable in Mary. He wanted her to think about that “one thing”. Would it be something that she could emulate? Her attitude toward service would change. Being the servant she was, she could even go so far as to use her obvious gifts and talents to serve Mary, which would help Mary grow in that “one thing.”
Pride puts us on the horns of a dilemma. Martha hated it when Jesus didn’t notice all the trouble she was going to. But if Martha were like her modern daughters, the fuss made over her for all she was doing would have embarrassed her. Pride and false humility are the mirror image of each other. Both are sin.
Learning to graciously receive compliments at face value and not manipulating or pressing others into giving complements are important virtues. The change begins in accepting the fact that God loves you now without one change in your life and knowing that his unconditional love in Jesus Christ will change you forever. Living the tension between those truths opens the door to some real healing.
When pride is in full bloom, no one understands, no one can relate, and no one can fully appreciate my problems. It doesn’t even want anyone to understand. There is a cold comfort in that being alone. Jesus will not leave us there. Of him it is said, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4) and “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). It is amazing how when I think I have gone through it all, I find that Jesus went through it before me and usually under worse circumstances.
Jesus knows our weaknesses and problems even better than we do. We can trust him to relate to us. One of the ways he does that is through believers he places around us. It is amazing how often he ministers through his people. If Jesus can identify with Martha, believe me he can identify with you and me. After all he is the “one thing needed.”
Jesus, however, was trying to tell Martha that she really was valuable. She was just going about finding it in the wrong way. Jesus wanted her to examine what it was that he found valuable in Mary. He wanted her to think about that “one thing”. Would it be something that she could emulate? Her attitude toward service would change. Being the servant she was, she could even go so far as to use her obvious gifts and talents to serve Mary, which would help Mary grow in that “one thing.”
Pride puts us on the horns of a dilemma. Martha hated it when Jesus didn’t notice all the trouble she was going to. But if Martha were like her modern daughters, the fuss made over her for all she was doing would have embarrassed her. Pride and false humility are the mirror image of each other. Both are sin.
Learning to graciously receive compliments at face value and not manipulating or pressing others into giving complements are important virtues. The change begins in accepting the fact that God loves you now without one change in your life and knowing that his unconditional love in Jesus Christ will change you forever. Living the tension between those truths opens the door to some real healing.
When pride is in full bloom, no one understands, no one can relate, and no one can fully appreciate my problems. It doesn’t even want anyone to understand. There is a cold comfort in that being alone. Jesus will not leave us there. Of him it is said, “Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows” (Isaiah 53:4) and “we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin” (Hebrews 4:15). It is amazing how when I think I have gone through it all, I find that Jesus went through it before me and usually under worse circumstances.
Jesus knows our weaknesses and problems even better than we do. We can trust him to relate to us. One of the ways he does that is through believers he places around us. It is amazing how often he ministers through his people. If Jesus can identify with Martha, believe me he can identify with you and me. After all he is the “one thing needed.”
Friday, June 5, 2009
PRIDE 6
Martha so wanted to make a good impression on Jesus. She gave it her very best. She was doing all the right things, at least from her perspective. What was wrong with Mary and Jesus? Couldn’t they see? Didn’t they understand?
Martha’s problem was trying to earn Jesus’ affection. Pride argued that love is never simply given. It must be earned. In Martha’s mind love had rules of give and give back. Jesus was not following the rules. She was giving, showing her affection as best she knew how. Now he was supposed to give back by telling her how special all her preparations were and thus how special she was. It was so frustrating.
Look at Jesus’ response to Martha’s harsh words. “Martha, Martha,” he said. The tone was not harsh or condescending. His intent was to communicate his genuine care and concern for her. What a shock that must have been to Martha! Martha had just blown it. She had been rude to her guest and he responded with kindness. Jesus was saying that he valued her more than he valued her cooking. We are worthwhile because Jesus says we are—not because of anything we have done or failed to do.
Jesus nailed it, “you are worried and upset about many things.” We are not told how Martha responded to Jesus’ words. We are left to answer that on our own. Perhaps she denied it and became defensive. Maybe she really nailed him for being insensitive to her feelings. A guilt trip would have fit in nicely about then. She may have just smiled and sucked it in once more and left feeling sorry for herself once again. Pride does not handle criticism well. It becomes defensive, resentful, bitter, and sulky.
“Mary has chosen what is better.” Ouch! Martha was trying so hard to be the favored one. It was her home. It was her preparations. It was going to be her dinner. Now all he can talk about is Mary!
It hurts when someone else gets what we have worked so hard for. Pride gets wounded. How easy it would have been for Martha to attempt to punish Mary or even try to get even with Jesus for what he said. How natural it would have been to slip into self-pity and resentment. It takes courage and patience to handle situations like this.
Martha’s problem was trying to earn Jesus’ affection. Pride argued that love is never simply given. It must be earned. In Martha’s mind love had rules of give and give back. Jesus was not following the rules. She was giving, showing her affection as best she knew how. Now he was supposed to give back by telling her how special all her preparations were and thus how special she was. It was so frustrating.
Look at Jesus’ response to Martha’s harsh words. “Martha, Martha,” he said. The tone was not harsh or condescending. His intent was to communicate his genuine care and concern for her. What a shock that must have been to Martha! Martha had just blown it. She had been rude to her guest and he responded with kindness. Jesus was saying that he valued her more than he valued her cooking. We are worthwhile because Jesus says we are—not because of anything we have done or failed to do.
Jesus nailed it, “you are worried and upset about many things.” We are not told how Martha responded to Jesus’ words. We are left to answer that on our own. Perhaps she denied it and became defensive. Maybe she really nailed him for being insensitive to her feelings. A guilt trip would have fit in nicely about then. She may have just smiled and sucked it in once more and left feeling sorry for herself once again. Pride does not handle criticism well. It becomes defensive, resentful, bitter, and sulky.
“Mary has chosen what is better.” Ouch! Martha was trying so hard to be the favored one. It was her home. It was her preparations. It was going to be her dinner. Now all he can talk about is Mary!
It hurts when someone else gets what we have worked so hard for. Pride gets wounded. How easy it would have been for Martha to attempt to punish Mary or even try to get even with Jesus for what he said. How natural it would have been to slip into self-pity and resentment. It takes courage and patience to handle situations like this.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
PRIDE 5
So goes life for the Marthas of this world. “Martha” decides to host a party. She opens her home. She wants to impress others with how well she can cook. She wants to be known as a good hostess. When her guests arrive, she is psyched. However, something happens during the evening. No one is helping serve the food. Suddenly a remark is made by a guest and taken the wrong way. She is sure a couple of her guests do not like her cooking. No one notices the special decorations. Suddenly, she is exhausted and angry. All the work that seemed to excite her now turns into a burden. Her guests become a bore. She becomes annoyed and filled with self-pity. Humility and service energize. Pride and self-pity demoralize.
Martha did something that even surprised Martha. She suddenly came charging out of the kitchen and in an angry voice said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” After Jesus arrived, Martha stood back in the kitchen listening to Mary and Jesus talk, at first thinking that surely Mary would realize all that she was doing and come back with an offer to help. When she didn’t come, she consoled herself by knowing that at least one person in that house cared. When she realized that she wasn’t going to get everything prepared and that Mary wasn’t coming to help, she lost it. Martha violated a very important rule of hospitality—drawing a guest into a family dispute. By this time she felt Jesus had it coming. After all, he didn’t care either since he didn’t send Mary back to help.
Few of us take it well when we fail to receive what we are entitled to. Martha was tempted to put on a humble smile, assure others and herself that she could handle it, and sucked it up and moved on. Then later, out of nowhere, out came her “Wicked Witch of the West” routine. That is pride in action.
Pride is aware of hurt but it does not properly acknowledge it. Instead it says to you how strong and forbearing you are. It draws strength from the self-pity that forms in the pit of the stomach. It gathers the hurts endured and begins to blend them into a witch’s brew of bitterness and resentment. This brew is very volatile. Eventually even pride can no longer digest it. There is finally an explosion of anger or a retreat into helplessness and martyrdom, and you become nothing more than your role as victim.
Asking for help is the way to break the spiral down into self-pity. Martha waited too long to ask for help. By the time she asked, her request was poisoned with accusation (“don’t you care”), blaming (“my sister has left me to do the work by myself”), and hostility (“Tell her to help me!”). How different the scene might have been if Martha had approached Mary earlier and asked for help. If she could have stated her need in the first person “I”, instead accusing and blaming, and listened to Mary, she may have discovered what Mary was doing and put aside the kitchen work and sat down with Mary. But that takes patience, which we will examine in the next section.
Martha did something that even surprised Martha. She suddenly came charging out of the kitchen and in an angry voice said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” After Jesus arrived, Martha stood back in the kitchen listening to Mary and Jesus talk, at first thinking that surely Mary would realize all that she was doing and come back with an offer to help. When she didn’t come, she consoled herself by knowing that at least one person in that house cared. When she realized that she wasn’t going to get everything prepared and that Mary wasn’t coming to help, she lost it. Martha violated a very important rule of hospitality—drawing a guest into a family dispute. By this time she felt Jesus had it coming. After all, he didn’t care either since he didn’t send Mary back to help.
Few of us take it well when we fail to receive what we are entitled to. Martha was tempted to put on a humble smile, assure others and herself that she could handle it, and sucked it up and moved on. Then later, out of nowhere, out came her “Wicked Witch of the West” routine. That is pride in action.
Pride is aware of hurt but it does not properly acknowledge it. Instead it says to you how strong and forbearing you are. It draws strength from the self-pity that forms in the pit of the stomach. It gathers the hurts endured and begins to blend them into a witch’s brew of bitterness and resentment. This brew is very volatile. Eventually even pride can no longer digest it. There is finally an explosion of anger or a retreat into helplessness and martyrdom, and you become nothing more than your role as victim.
Asking for help is the way to break the spiral down into self-pity. Martha waited too long to ask for help. By the time she asked, her request was poisoned with accusation (“don’t you care”), blaming (“my sister has left me to do the work by myself”), and hostility (“Tell her to help me!”). How different the scene might have been if Martha had approached Mary earlier and asked for help. If she could have stated her need in the first person “I”, instead accusing and blaming, and listened to Mary, she may have discovered what Mary was doing and put aside the kitchen work and sat down with Mary. But that takes patience, which we will examine in the next section.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
PRIDE 4
Luke states very simply that while Martha opened her home, Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.” Can you imagine what went through Martha’s mind? It was Martha’s home and she was kind enough to let her sister live there. After all, that is what sisters do, right? How could Mary be so inconsiderate of her guest and her SISTER by ignoring all that remained to be done? But Martha said nothing. If the job was going to be done, she would have to do it.
If you are a parent, if you have ever been an employer or supervisor, or if you have ever had responsibility for another human being, you know the pain Martha felt at that moment. You make decisions and take actions that you feel are in the best interest of all. Do you get cooperation? Are you thanked? Do you gain understanding? Too often those in your care are clueless. It hurts. They owe you better than that.
Pride’s trick is to take a need or a hurt and turn it into self-pity. It stores away the slight for a later time when it can be used as a club against the thankless person. It justifies the use of that club by reminding how hard you worked and how much you sacrificed. After all, you deserve better! Pride knows entitlement but nothing of grace and forgiveness.
Paul writes to the Philippians, “in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Phil 2:3). Martha seems the epitome of this verse. She didn’t say anything to Mary about not helping. She was doing her best to provide Jesus with a good meal. She was simply doing the humble, Christian thing by putting others needs ahead of her own. Luke tells us something unpleasant happened in the process. She became “distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” Pride pulled a switch. What started as an effort to serve others became an effort to serve food. So much had to be done that the reason for doing it got lost.
If you are a parent, if you have ever been an employer or supervisor, or if you have ever had responsibility for another human being, you know the pain Martha felt at that moment. You make decisions and take actions that you feel are in the best interest of all. Do you get cooperation? Are you thanked? Do you gain understanding? Too often those in your care are clueless. It hurts. They owe you better than that.
Pride’s trick is to take a need or a hurt and turn it into self-pity. It stores away the slight for a later time when it can be used as a club against the thankless person. It justifies the use of that club by reminding how hard you worked and how much you sacrificed. After all, you deserve better! Pride knows entitlement but nothing of grace and forgiveness.
Paul writes to the Philippians, “in humility consider others better than yourselves” (Phil 2:3). Martha seems the epitome of this verse. She didn’t say anything to Mary about not helping. She was doing her best to provide Jesus with a good meal. She was simply doing the humble, Christian thing by putting others needs ahead of her own. Luke tells us something unpleasant happened in the process. She became “distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.” Pride pulled a switch. What started as an effort to serve others became an effort to serve food. So much had to be done that the reason for doing it got lost.
PRIDE 3
One of the tragic consequences of the sin of pride is its ability to take something good and twist it into a bargaining chip. The bargain was that Martha would open her home to Jesus and give him a wonderful meal. Jesus would complete the deal by saying how grateful he was, what a gracious host Martha had been, and leave with some words of wisdom, which would bless her home.
That does not sound like a bad trade. We often give in order to get. Pride argues that giving is the only way to get, and life’s disappointments seem at times to underscore that message. Pride cannot accept grace.
Grace is kindness given where it is not earned or deserved. Jesus came first to give and without pride. That is the story of his suffering and finally his death on the cross. He died for us to give us life by taking our sin on his shoulders. God raised him from the dead and now he gives this gift of life to all who will receive it. He didn’t do this to wrangle a thank you. There is nothing we can give back to him for this gift he has given. He believes his gift of grace will change our lives, that we will be grateful, and that we will become giving people because of his gift. This does not make his grace a give-to-get transaction because that would assume that somewhere down the line we could expect Jesus to call in our account so that we would repay him. Nothing could be farther from the truth. He gives simply believing his gift will do what it is intended to do, give us life. He believes the Holy Spirit then will produces new fruit from our lives in response to that gift. Later on we will examine how that works.
That does not sound like a bad trade. We often give in order to get. Pride argues that giving is the only way to get, and life’s disappointments seem at times to underscore that message. Pride cannot accept grace.
Grace is kindness given where it is not earned or deserved. Jesus came first to give and without pride. That is the story of his suffering and finally his death on the cross. He died for us to give us life by taking our sin on his shoulders. God raised him from the dead and now he gives this gift of life to all who will receive it. He didn’t do this to wrangle a thank you. There is nothing we can give back to him for this gift he has given. He believes his gift of grace will change our lives, that we will be grateful, and that we will become giving people because of his gift. This does not make his grace a give-to-get transaction because that would assume that somewhere down the line we could expect Jesus to call in our account so that we would repay him. Nothing could be farther from the truth. He gives simply believing his gift will do what it is intended to do, give us life. He believes the Holy Spirit then will produces new fruit from our lives in response to that gift. Later on we will examine how that works.
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