“The Foundation For Building A Life That Lasts”
Luke 10:38-42, Mark 14:3-9
Sermon Series: “Don’t Waste Your Life”
Introduction: The point of this series is to encourage and equip us to build lives that last forever instead of wasting our lives. We are going to look at the example of Mary and Martha to see what is the foundation for building a life that lasts. Jesus said to Mary (v. 42), “But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Martha and Mary were sisters, Lazarus was their brother, and they were friends and ministry supporters of Jesus. Jesus stopped at their house. Martha was focused on preparing a meal, but Mary wanted to sit at His feet and learn from Him. Mary is not the hero and Martha the villain here as it is often presented. We are called to worship and serve. However, we are called to spend time with Jesus and then do His work under His direction and empowering. We can have Mary’s heart and Martha’s hands. So, it is a both/and instead of an either/or type of thing. We will see that particularly when we see that Mary took what she learned from Jesus, sacrificially anointed Him in advance for His burial, and Jesus told her this would be a “memorial to her” wherever the gospel is preached.
*Main Principle: Spending time with Jesus is the foundation that enables us to build a life that lasts.*
Why is this the case? What are the results of spending time with Him?
1. Spending time with Jesus gives us the wisdom to know what we should do and when we should do it.
2. Spending time with Jesus enables us to avoid the activity trap of wasting our lives on insignificant things.
3. Spending time with Jesus keeps us from missing Jesus in the midst of serving Jesus.
4. Spending time with Jesus enables us to truly surrender to Him and worship and serve Him sacrificially from the heart.
5. Spending time with Jesus empowers us to live lives that will last forever.
Conclusion: Are you spending time with Jesus? Is that the “one thing,” the first priority of your life? Are you listening to Him and doing what He tells you to do? That really is the way to build a life that lasts. Jesus said, “I am the vine, you are the branches, He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
