Sermon Snippet – Keep It Simple, Sibs
INTRODUCTION – Last week, we changed the familiar acronym KISS to something better: “Keep it simple, sibs,” for we are brothers and sisters through our shared faith in Jesus Christ. Let us consider an example of this concept, beginning in Luke 10:38-42.
1. WHO WE ARE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT WE DO
A friend once said, “Christianity is more about being than doing,” and he was right. We are “created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10b); what we do with our faith is thus important. However, we must first understand who we are “in Christ Jesus” and what the Christian faith actually is. Martha was missing the opportunity to learn Who Jesus was and is; therefore, she was unable to grasp who she was. The “one thing” (verse 42) was not a call for a one-course meal, as some have suggested, for Jesus was able to feed everyone there miraculously; even one course was thus not “needful” (verse 42). Rather, Jesus explains to Martha and to us what was “needful”: “Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken from her” (verse 42b). By learning who she was in Christ, Mary was ready to worship Him (John 11:32; 12:3). We must not fall into the pernicious philosophy of utilitarianism, which measures our value by what we accomplish. This week is the anniversary of Roe vs. Wade, a legally, scientifically, and morally indefensible decision. People who support abortion do not care what the Bible says about this issue (Exodus 21:22-23 is unequivocal), but their assertions can be met with logical rebuttals using the acronym SLED. Is size a determining factor in what is human? It is not, for a sumo wrestler is not more human than a person with dwarfism (or a tiny baby in the womb). Does level of development determine who is human? No, for a full-grown man of forty is not more human than when he was a boy of four (or of four months in the womb). Is one’s environment a determinant of one’s humanity? No, a baby in an incubator is every bit as much of a baby as one in his mother’s arms (or in his mother’s womb). Does degree of dependence determine one’s humanity? No, for a person on insulin is fully dependent on it in order to survive (just as an unborn child needs her mother’s womb). These answers also apply to who we are as Christians. Unless the Lord returns first or I die, there is coming a time when I will no longer be able to preach. Will I be less of a Christian because I am unable to do what I have done for forty years? No, I will still be a Christian. Martha erroneously thought that what she did defined her as a human being, validated her as a person. She was trying to impress people. Jesus was telling her and us that who we are is more important than what we do.
2. MARTHA LEARNED THIS TRUTH
She was “careful and troubled about many things” (verse 41b) – that is, she was anxious and drawn in different directions. She was a modern person in the ancient world! Later, though, she gave one of the strongest statements of faith in Scripture (John 11:20-27). The next time Martha prepared a meal for Jesus (John 12:1-2), she did so without complaining. We can be certain if we are cranky and critical Christians that we have gone wrong along the way, perhaps because we do not know who we are in Christ – and who others are in Him, as well. We do not want to emulate the Martha of Luke 10; the mature Martha of John 11 and 12 is most worthy of our emulation.
CONCLUSION – The fine preacher Warren Wiersbe cogently commented, “What we do with Christ is far more important that what we do for Christ.” What we first must do with Jesus is understand that He is the Savior and that we need the salvation that He freely offers. We must receive this gift of eternal life through faith in Him. Then, as we continue to learn about Him and from Him, we can serve wisely and well. This service must be based on Who He is and who we are in Him. Let us not complicate these things; let us “keep it simple, sibs.”