For those of you who’ve been reading my blog a while know, I read books other than the Bible, Bible studies, or commentaries sporadically. I rarely read a novel and mostly what I read outside of the above mentioned books are inspirational. Books like “Hand Me Another Brick” by Charles Swindoll, or “Smart Women Keep it Simple” by Annie Chapman, or “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World,” by Joanna Weaver.

Sometimes it takes me a while to read through these types of books because I have so many other things to do. There’s my time at work, my study time, my writing time, my family time, my kitchen time, my sleep time, and of course, my “I don’t want to think” time. But in my own time, I will finish a book.

Another book I picked up is “Love Does” by Bob Goff. I’m doing a better job at getting this book read because it’s the way I write. He tells a story and then relates it to God. You see little glimpses of this man through his writing. Whether it’s a funny story or one that is a bit more somber, Mr. Goff has figured out that God is right there in the middle of life. God shows up. It’s up to us to see Him.

I also enjoy a book when I find brilliant snippets of wisdom. Pieces of advice that I can tuck away in my heart to be retrieved at just the right moment. I found such a piece in “Love Does” recently.

“I used to be afraid of failing at the things that really mattered to me, but now I’m more afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.”[i]

This quote stopped me in my tracks. My thoughts have been focused on these words. What is it in my life that I’m succeeding at that really doesn’t matter?

Quite a few things actually.

Is it really all that important that I’m successful at decorating my home or office(s)? Is it really all that important that I’m successful at meal planning and meal preparation? Is it really all that important that I’ve successfully written and e-published a novel? Is it really all that important that I’ve successfully beaten level 35 of Candy Crush?

Don’t get me wrong. I find joy and excitement in these things (well maybe not the Candy Crush thing), but they really don’t matter. Not to anyone else anyway. If my time is wasted in doing things that really don’t matter, I’m not leaving any room to be successful at the important things.

We find the account of an encounter with Jesus in Luke 10:38-42 with Mary and Martha. These two sisters whom Jesus had a special bond were at odds with one another.

Mary and Martha each were each successful. One was successful at what was important. The other successful at what wasn’t. Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet to listen to His words. Martha was busy preparing a meal for this crowd. Martha was agitated and wanted Jesus to force her sister to help her.

Jesus could have used Bob Goff’s quote above when He spoke with Martha, but instead He used His own.

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42 – NIV)

We too can be distracted by the things of this world that pull us away from what is really important. Being with Jesus must be the one thing where I am successful. When I am successful in my relationship with Jesus, everything else will fall into  place. It opens the door for me to be successful in other areas of my life.

I can almost guarantee that if you were to come to my home in the next week that you’d find my home decorated for autumn. It’s what I like to do and I enjoy it. But I can guarantee that if something else of greater importance develops, the fall décor will remain in my basement.

When we learn to balance the important things in our lives with the less important, that’s when we will be most successful. Mary and Martha had to figure it out and so do we.

Where are you most successful? Have you chosen what is better?

Grace and peace be yours in abundance,

Donna

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