Welcome distraction?
Some people are very hospitable. From the moment you arrive they make you feel welcome and relaxed, often offering you food and drink.
In my role as a church leader I have been welcomed into many homes and enjoyed a variety of refreshments, especially from non-English cultures.
There was one occasion when I visited a delightful Chinese family. They poured me some tea and offered some snacks to eat. I drank and ate as we chatted, and when my cup was empty they refilled it, so being polite, I drank that too.
No sooner had I finished the second cup, they filled it again! I thought to myself, I can’t keep drinking, so I did not finish it. I think it may have been a Chinese custom to keep refilling the cup?
It’s good to welcome people into our homes and to offer hospitality. There was an occasion in the Bible when this happened to Jesus…
“He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
“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.””
The sisters were very different. Martha got on with all the practical things whilst Mary sat and listened to Jesus, much to the annoyance of Martha!
I don’t think Martha was doing anything wrong in seeking to look after her guests, after all that would have been customary, however she was masking something deeper.
When Martha complained to Jesus, he revealed and addressed what was really going on with her. I do wonder how Martha responded to what Jesus said?
Her sister Mary had welcomed Jesus and was fully attentive to Him, which Jesus said was ‘better’.
I believe Jesus wants to connect with everyone of us, so how do we welcome him? I think we have a choice. We can be distracted or even hide, by being busy, and miss the presence of Jesus. Or we can sit at His feet, give Him our full attention and listen to Him.
God bless you :)
Gary Bastin - Hope Community Church leader