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Introduction
Pride, Poverty and Gratitude
38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” —Luke 10:38–42 (NLT)
Spirit of Pride
Those unwilling to work will not get to eat. —2 Thessalonians 3:10 (NLT)
Lazy people are soon poor; hard workers get rich. —Proverbs 10:4 (NLT)
To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given —Matthew 25:29 (NLT)
Spirit of Poverty
1 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. 2 A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. 3 Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance. 4 But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, 5 “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” 6 Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself. 7 Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” —John 12:1–8 (NLT)
“For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. —1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)
Spirit of Gratitude
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Questions to Ponder:
What does Jesus’ response to Martha suggest about the importance of spiritual priorities over material concerns?
How does the contrast between Mary’s generosity and Judas’s criticism reflect different attitudes towards wealth and possessions?
Think of a time when you felt envious or jealous of someone else’s possessions. What is one step you can take to cultivate a spirit of gratitude instead?
Reflect on a recent situation where you were preoccupied with tasks like Martha. How could you have shifted your focus to what was truly important?
Can you name a specific instance where you can choose fairness over equality in your interactions with others, as it relates to the distribution or use of resources?