“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42
“Christ never was in a hurry. There was no rushing forward, no anticipating, no fretting over what might be. Each day’s duties were done as each day brought them, and the rest was left with God.”
Mary Slessor (1848-1915) African missionary. I’m thanking God for African missionaries this week as the GTP Palmful of Maize video just released. Watch it here. Make a gift. Host a watch party with friends or at church. Click here for a kit.
And reflect on these words from Slessor which relate to today’s Scripture. We must not rush, anticipate, or fret what might be. We find peace and we serve far more generously when we instead do our part and trust God for any and all results.
So why do we do rush, anticipate, and fret? let’s ponder for a moment. I think they relate to the three temptations Jesus avoided. Rushing links to pride, anticipating to idolatry, and fretting to control. It’s easy to fall into these traps!
When we have pride, we lead instead of following God. So we rush. When we anticipate, we think our power makes things happen rather than God. This is idolatry. And when we fret, it reveals that we think we are in control, when God is.
Let’s resist these temptations so that our generous living, giving, serving and loving is free from pride and rushing, anticipating and idolatry, and fretting and control. God help us!
When this posts I should have just arrived in Panama City. Thanks for your prayers for a fruitful week of empowering 37 Christian workers from 14 Latin American countries to multiply stewards and help ministries follow standards.