Does God Want Me to Work Hard?

Luke 10:38-41

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A number of years ago, I met with a member of my congregation who hadn’t been to church in over a year. And so I wanted to sit down and talk to him and figure out what was going on. He went on to explain to me that he worked his normal 9 to 5 job Monday to Friday, and he’s been doing that for decades and paid all the bills. But more recently he had gotten a job at a local amusement park and worked on the weekends, Saturday and Sunday. He really liked the benefits, especially that he got a free annual pass to the park for himself and for his family. He went on to ask me, Doesn’t God want me to work hard?

Kind of presented that question to me, well, is it more important to work hard or more important to spend time in God’s Word? God tells us a story in his word from Luke. Chapter ten says this

As they went on their way, Jesus came into a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at the Lord’s feet and was listening to his word. But Martha was distracted with all her serving. She came over and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” The Lord answered and told her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is needed. In fact, Mary has chosen that better part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-41)

We’re hearing the story about these two sisters, Mary and Martha, and how Jesus had come over to his house, likely with his disciples. And Martha was busy serving. She wanted to make sure that all of her guests had everything that they needed that they were taken care of. And what did she notice? Well, her sister wasn’t helping. She was sitting there at Jesus feet doing nothing. Eventually, she got so frustrated that she even brought the matter to Jesus attention and wanted Jesus to step in and tell Mary to help.

But Jesus didn’t respond the way in which Martha expected. Instead, Jesus told Martha she’s worried and upset about many things. But, the thing that Mary had chosen was better. Perhaps it seemed a little confusing to Martha. She maybe had that question. Well, isn’t it good for me to work hard? Isn’t it good for me to serve other people? Certainly it is. God does want us to use our time and talents to work hard, to provide for ourselves and our families and to help others. He desires us to serve one another too.

God also wants us to pay attention to his word, especially at those times when his word is shared. We think about that occasion in the home as Jesus came there. What did all the people want to do? They all gathered around Jesus because they all wanted to hear from him. They wanted to focus on His word. That was what was most important at that time. So too, we can think about our own opportunities to hear God’s word. An obvious one is, of course, on church on Sunday morning. It’s an obvious time to gather around God’s word, to hear it, and to be strengthened by it.

We ourselves maybe can come up with excuses, though, on why we can’t make it. Maybe we have to go to work. Maybe we have to be with our family. There just isn’t time. I’m trying to do good things, Lord. I understand that there are certain jobs that maybe require shift work done on Sunday morning, just can’t get out of it. But for us, do we really make sure to take the time then for God and His Word to spend time to listen to Jesus? So often, I think we’re just filled with excuses. But Jesus wants us to take the time to just rest and listen. Listen to him.

Why is that so important? It’s so important it’s because through his word, he reminds us of the truth concerning ourselves that we are sinners. Sinners in desperate need of a savior. But he reminds us as well of who he is, that he is the one who has come to suffer and die for all of our sins. And that in him we have eternal life. It’s through regular use of his word and sacrament, that he continues to strengthen our faith every day, every week, as he keeps us close to himself through those things. And so rather than neglecting his word, he wants us to take those opportunities that he has given and use them wisely to be fed by him. Let us pray.

Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Help us to take time to hear your word and to strengthen our faith by it. Amen.