(Luke 10:38) While Jesus and his followers were traveling, Jesus went into a town. A woman named Martha let Jesus stay at her house.

1. What were Jesus and his disciples doing? Traveling
2. What would you expect Martha's priority to be? To meet Jesus's needs
3. Do You think that's a good priority? (Absolutely)

(Luke 10:39) Martha had a sister named Mary, who was sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to him teach.

1. What was Mary's priority (Listening to Jesus)
2. Was this a good priority? (Definitely).
3. What do you think Jesus's disciples felt about Mary sitting with them before the Master?
(It was unusual in those days for a women to be taught by a rabbi, but the disciples were probably used to it, since Jesus often included women.)

(Luke 10:40) But Martha was busy with all the work to be done. She went in and said, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me alone to do all the work? Tell her to help me."

1. What was Martha focusing on? ("All the preparations." Of course she wasn't really focusing." She was distracted.")
2. What did she want Jesus to do? (Send Mary into the kitchen to help)
3. How would you describe Martha's feelings at this point? (Overworked and underpaid. She feels angry left alone to do all the work while her sister has all the fun, It's not fair. She's angry.)

(Luke 10:41-42) But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. {42} Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her."
1. How does Jesus describe Martha's attitude? (Worried and upset about things)
2. What do these verses tell us about priorities (Very specifically, Jesus say, "Only one thing is needed," and that "Mary chosen what is better." One thing and better are priority phrases. All that Martha is doing is unnecessary. It's not bad stuff, it just pales in importance compared with the one thing Mary has chosen--which is listening to Jesus.)

What does the word of God have to say about getting in the right frame of mind-so we can receive wisdom and guidance from the Holy Spirit.

(1 Sam 15:22) But Samuel answered, "What pleases the LORD more: burnt offerings and sacrifices or obedience to his voice? It is better to obey than to sacrifice. It is better to listen to God than to offer the fat of sheep.

(Luke 14:28-30) If you want to build a tower, you first sit down and decide how much it will cost, to see if you have enough money to finish the job. {29} If you don't, you might lay the foundation, but you would not be able to finish. Then all who would see it would make fun of you, {30} saying, 'This person began to build but was not able to finish.'

(Prov 15:16) It is better to be poor and respect the LORD than to be wealthy and have much trouble.

(Psa 127:1-2) If the LORD doesn't build the house, the builders are working for nothing. If the LORD doesn't guard the city, the guards are watching for nothing. {2} It is no use for you to get up early and stay up late, working for a living. The LORD gives sleep to those he loves.

(Prov 16:16) It is better to get wisdom than gold, and to choose understanding rather than silver!

(Mat 5:23-24) "So when you offer your gift to God at the altar, and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, {24} leave your gift there at the altar. Go and make peace with that person, and then come and offer your gift.

(1 Cor 13:1-3) I may speak in different languages of people or even angels. But if I do not have love, I am only a noisy bell or a crashing cymbal. {2} I may have the gift of prophecy. I may understand all the secret things of God and have all knowledge, and I may have faith so great I can move mountains. But even with all these things, if I do not have love, then I am nothing. {3} I may give away everything I have, and I may even give my body as an offering to be burned. But I gain nothing if I do not have love.

Luke 9:58-62) Jesus said to them, "The foxes have holes to live in, and the birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to rest his head." {59} Jesus said to another man, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." {60} But Jesus said to him, "Let the people who are dead bury their own dead. You must go and tell about the kingdom of God." {61} Another man said, "I will follow you, Lord, but first let me go and say good-bye to my family." {62} Jesus said, "Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God."

(Phil 3:7-11) Those things were important to me, but now I think they are worth nothing because of Christ. {8} Not only those things, but I think that all things are worth nothing compared with the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him, I have lost all those things, and now I know they are worthless trash. This allows me to have Christ {9} and to belong to him. Now I am right with God, not because I followed the law, but because I believed in Christ. God uses my faith to make me right with him. {10} I want to know Christ and the power that raised him from the dead. I want to share in his sufferings and become like him in his death. {11} Then I have hope that I myself will be raised from the dead.

(Eccl 4:9-10) Two people are better than one, because they get more done by working together. {10} If one falls down, the other can help him up. But it is bad for the person who is alone and falls, because no one is there to help.

(Mat 6:31-33) Don't worry and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' {32} The people who don't know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in heaven knows you need them. {33} The thing you should want most is God's kingdom and doing what God wants. Then all these other things you need will be given to you.

(2 Th 3:10-12) When we were with you, we gave you this rule: "Anyone who refuses to work should not eat." {11} We hear that some people in your group refuse to work. They do nothing but busy themselves in other people's lives. {12} We command those people and beg them in the Lord Jesus Christ to work quietly and earn their own food.

In our society today we find these three things robbing in our relationship to God!

Money Possessions? (Not very important. Better to have wisdom, a peaceful life and seek God's kingdom)
Work (Important but not that important; earn a living and find satisfaction in it. But don't let your business keep you from Christ first.)
Religious observances? (Obeying God is crucial, but religious activities are less important. Love for God and others matters far more).
Family and Friends? (It's very important to have friends but don't forget that God must come first).