Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Just Sitting Around

Setting up this blog has certainly been a tedious and long process, mostly because I do not know what I am doing. But this I do know, I desire, as an “older woman” to be obedient to the summons in Titus 2:3-5: “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior…teaching what is good, so that they may encourage the younger women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God is not dishonored.” That is what I a desire to do.

The problem is that I find myself so caught up in creating this blog, that I can actually sacrifice being a Titus Two woman in order to get the job done. Good intentions are not worth much as Martha of Bethany discovered (Luke 10:38-42). She welcomed Jesus into her home and intended to serve Him by providing a meal for Him. That’s definitely a good work. But somewhere between her good intentions and her preparations she lost sight of the goal - to actually honor and glorify God in her serving. Why? Because she became distracted by her serving.

Martha was so caught up in preparing to serve Jesus that she left Him out. As a result she missed out on the goodness of the Lord. Mary was a partaker of His goodness as she sat at His feet listening to His words and renewing her mind (Rom. 12:2). Jesus commended her to Martha when He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

The phrase in verse 42 translated ”the good part” can also be translated “partaker of that which is good” (see Col. 1:12 for an example of the Greek word “meris” translated as “partakers”). Mary’s intentions, I am sure were to serve the Lord also, but she knew that sitting had to come before serving.

Good intentions can cause me to miss out on my good God. And where does that get me? I will only be worried and bothered by all my serving. The joy of serving will turn into complaining when I do not let the goodness of Christ rub off on me by sitting at His feet, as Mary did. My good intentions must be empowered by Him to become actual good works. It will not happen any other way.

So as I set up this blog, I ask God to keep reminding me of Himself and where I need to be before I attempt to serve younger women through this blog. I must sit before I can serve if it is to be serving that glorifies my good God. And like Jesus said, “…Mary has chosen…” Like Mary (and I’m sure Martha too after the Lord’s rebuke to her), I want to chose to partake of that which is intrinsically good - only God is - so that I might be equipped to really serve others with joy that glorifies Christ. I really do want to be a Biblical (Titus 2) woman as I prepare this blog so I am planning to just sit around for a spell. That way I know much good will get done!
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2 comments:
Join the discussionJust Sitting Around

  1. Hi Sharon,

    Thank you so much for taking the time to find another way to minister to us. I always look forward to your teaching and your words of wisdom.

    One of the younger women,

    Chona

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  2. Hi Sharon,

    I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for taking the time to create such a beautiful site. I love everything about it! The assortment of writings....all so nurturing and edifying, the delightful artwork, it's all just soooo exceptional. I can tell it is a labor of God's Love. It's like stepping into a garden. I look forward to every new addition!

    Love, Jann

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