“Balancing Between Gospel Otherworldliness And Worldly Pursuits!”

“Balancing Between Gospel Otherworldliness And Worldly Pursuits!”(Lk.19:38-43).
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, 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.'”
A few times, I have attempted to talk a few people out of the long periods they spend engaging in church related matters. Some of the responses – according to them – are backed by Jesus’ response to Martha: “Martha, Martha, 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.”
There is no food for a lazy man; and he who doesn’t work should not eat. Sad to say that today, in the name of discipleship, some people spend about 200 days out of the 365 days of the year fully engaging in church-related activities.
Martha was not just worried about many things. She possibly was worrying about how to receive a guest like Jesus in their home. She was probably worried about offering a kingly reception to someone like Jesus.
Choosing the gospel is what is essential, and most importantly, holding on to it such that it will not be taken away from you. However, even though we do not live by bread alone, we can’t do without bread. We need bread to be alive so as to do the work of God.
What is needed is for us to strike a balance between distraction caused by work and the over concentration on churchiness at the expense of work.
Once we have embraced the gospel, we must ensure that it shouldn’t be taken away from us. However, our concentration on churchiness should not become a burden for others to labour alone.
Prayer: Holy Spirit, help me to strike a balance between absolute devotion and mundane pursuits. Amen!
Have a blessed day! Peace be with you!
Rev Babila Fochang.
17/02/2026.