Martha Was Cumbered About Much Serving
C.H. Spurgeon's sermon emphasizes the necessity of balancing service to Christ with personal communion to maintain spiritual health and effectiveness in ministry.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that Martha's fault was not in her service but in becoming overwhelmed by it, leading her to forget the importance of communion with Jesus. He encourages believers to engage in both service and fellowship, highlighting that while serving is essential, it should not overshadow our relationship with Christ. Spurgeon points out that true spiritual health comes from maintaining a balance between action and communion, urging Christians to prioritize their connection with the Lord above all else. He illustrates that while external duties are important, they should not come at the expense of personal fellowship with Jesus. Ultimately, the sermon calls for a life that harmonizes service with spiritual intimacy.
Text
Her fault was not that she served: the condition of a servant well becomes every Christian. "I serve," should be the motto of all the princes of the royal family of heaven. Nor was it her fault that she had "much serving." We cannot do too much. Let us do all that we possibly can; let head, and heart, and hands, be engaged in the Master's service. It was no fault of hers that she was busy preparing a feast for the Master. Happy Martha, to have an opportunity of entertaining so blessed a guest; and happy, too, to have the spirit to throw her whole soul so heartily into the engagement.
Her fault was that she grew "cumbered with much serving," so that she forgot Him, and only remembered the service. She allowed service to override communion, and so presented one duty stained with the blood of another. We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time. For this we need great grace. It is easier to serve than to commune. Joshua never grew weary in fighting with the Amalekites; but Moses, on the top of the mountain in prayer, needed two helpers to sustain his hands.
The more spiritual the exercise, the sooner we tire in it. The choicest fruits are the hardest to rear: the most heavenly graces are the most difficult to cultivate. Beloved, while we do not neglect external things, which are good enough in themselves, we ought also to see to it that we enjoy living, personal fellowship with Jesus. See to it that sitting at the Saviour's feet is not neglected, even though it be under the specious pretext of doing Him service. The first thing for our soul's health, the first thing for His glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus, and to see that the vital spirituality of our religion is maintained over and above everything else in the world.
Sermon Outline
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I
- The importance of serving
- The role of service in a Christian's life
- Service as a reflection of our relationship with Christ
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II
- The danger of being cumbered by service
- Balancing service with communion
- The need for grace in our spiritual lives
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III
- The significance of personal fellowship with Jesus
- Prioritizing communion over mere activity
- Maintaining spiritual health through connection with Christ
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IV
- The challenge of spiritual exercises
- The necessity of support in prayer and communion
- Cultivating heavenly graces amidst earthly duties
Key Quotes
“Her fault was that she grew 'cumbered with much serving,' so that she forgot Him, and only remembered the service.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“We ought to be Martha and Mary in one: we should do much service, and have much communion at the same time.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“The first thing for our soul's health, the first thing for His glory, and the first thing for our own usefulness, is to keep ourselves in perpetual communion with the Lord Jesus.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- Make time for personal communion with Jesus amidst your service.
- Recognize the importance of grace in balancing your spiritual and practical duties.
- Ensure that your service does not overshadow your relationship with Christ.