Work is a Delight if Jesus is Our Rest; Work is a Burden if It All Depends on Us

This morning, sometime after I hit my snooze alarm, I prayed that I could honor and glorify God today, that it would be His words, and not mine as a preached this morning, and that He, by His might and Spirit would lead our services this morning. I then proceeded to dream about all the things I needed to get done, checklists and all, and I couldn’t do anything until those checklists were done. Or should I say, I WOULDN’T do anything. I think God was trying to tell me something about myself. To offer understanding of my dream, I need to back track a bit. Last night, as we reveled in the success of our Archery team (Elementary 3rd, Middle School 2nd, High School 3rd with many personal bests), the coaches took a picture, asking for me (who also coaches at the Elementary level), but I was preparing the car because I needed to be at work before 6:30 in the morning to do the preparations for Sunday. Friday, I missed out on an opportunity to have lunch with the director and several of the students at the school I was teaching at because I had to get home and do the work I needed to get done for Church so it would be done for Sunday.

Thursday, I visited my parents, and left earlier than I intended, somewhat for valid reasons (my niece was demanding attention from my dad, and she needs that kind of attention in her life), I went back and worked. Wednesday, after teaching for four hours, after lunch, I went in to the office at the school, and worked until 4, went, rested, ate dinner, and then worked some more on my sermon for Sunday. Monday and Tuesday in preparation for my trip, I got all my lists, checked boxes, and didn’t get as much quality time with my family because it was all about the trip. Do you see my problem here? Don’t get me wrong: I took some time for rest (I actually got to bed early every night I was gone, read some books, relaxed a bit), but the rest was because I had exhausted all other options: it was a response, not an attitude. Even this morning, I arrived at the Church, checked off boxes, lamented and complained that things were not put back (mostly, though, that it created more work for me), worrying about my sermon and worrying about my class tonight (I’ve got a headache over it all), and I let all of my prayers, and the lessons that I SHOULD have learned this week fall to the wayside as I focused on the work that I have to do instead of the Jesus I serve. Work has always been; it existed before the Fall (even God rested from His labors), but it became toil after Adam and Eve sinned. Since the Cross of Christ, it SHOULD be a delight to do the work of Christ, but all too often, I’m Martha, grumbling and complaining about others while I’m missing out on Jesus (who’s desiring my time). Work is a delight if Jesus is our rest. Work is a burden if it all depends on us. Pray for me, a consummate Martha, and I will pray for you.

Mark 10:38-42

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Matthew 6:24-34

 “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Philippians 4:4-9

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.