Luke 10:38-42
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Romans 14:18
Because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval.
Colossian 3:24
Since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
1 Samuel 12:24
But be sure to fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.
Do God’s Work and Your Personal Work in a Simple and Wise Way
When it comes to all of God’s work and your own personal work, if you work in cumbersome ways, or if you overdo things or put in excessive effort, then both you and those watching you will end up feeling burdened and troubled.
Each person should pray, think wisely, and do things in a simple way. Then you will save time, money, and strength, and the work will turn out well.
Prayer also requires some investment of time, but just because someone prays for a long time, it doesn’t mean it’s effective. You have to do it wisely. Then you can pray in an ideal way in a short amount of time.
There are people who do things in an overly burdensome way when work is entrusted to them. They overdo things unnecessarily, so they incur loss instead. Those who do well work in a simple way. That’s why it’s refreshing to watch them, and it’s not burdensome either. In this way, when serving God, we shouldn’t do it in ways that are burdensome, excessive, and overdone.
God’s Ways Are Not Excessive
In Luke 10:38-42 (one of the reference scriptures), Martha was taking care of Jesus, but she was doing it excessively. Jesus did not go to Mary’s place to eat. He went to preach the Word. This also applies to the way we believe in God and serve and love Him. God’s ways are not excessive. Those who serve God in a burdensome way are like “Martha.”
Let’s say an acquaintance invited you to visit their home. If all their family members run around in a wearisome or cumbersome way to look after you, and if they even argue because they have different opinions about how to serve you, how uncomfortable and burdened would you feel? The same is true when serving God.
1 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Love is not rude.” Even believing, serving, and loving God must not be done excessively in a rude or impolite way.
Reflect on Yourself and Repent
With God’s Word, you shouldn’t interpret it excessively and in such an unrefined way with your physical thoughts, and you shouldn’t say whatever you want.
Those who practice faith in a physical way, those who don’t repent even after sinning, those who speak recklessly and as they please without restraining their tongue, and especially those who only bloom flowers with their lips and say whatever they want—this message is especially useful for them to become fundamentally clean.
Satan and demons always work through ignorant people. Now is the time for you to reflect on yourself, examine yourself, and make yourself clean. If you interpret the Word however you want and speak however you like, and if you misunderstand and hate those who act faithfully, then you will surely be repaid according to your words.
Even when you are interacting with people, if you go overboard, they will feel burdened and distance themselves from you. Likewise, if you treat and serve the Holy Trinity in an excessive way, then even you and those who see you will feel burdened, and you will have difficulties because your life of faith will feel forced.
