The Reason for the Season

The Reason for the Season

by Grant Gaines

Being a native Texan, I have a lot of pride in my state’s history. Without question, the most popular event that shaped Texas’s history was the Battle of the Alamo. After being routed by the Mexican army at the Alamo, Texans and volunteers from around the country rallied around the Texan’s valiant effort to gain their independence from Mexico at the Alamo.

Several short weeks later, The Republic of Texas won their independence in the Battle of San Jacinto behind the battle cry of, “Remember the Alamo.” The men did not want to forget what they were fighting for and who had gone before them.

We can learn a lot from the heroes of the Alamo. They knew they must stay focused on the purpose of their battle—victory. Now take their reason for focusing and apply it to your daily life. Wouldn’t you agree that it is easy to get distracted when so many different things are “battle” for our attention? This is especially true during the busy, and often hectic, Christmas season. So many things have to be done and there is so little time to do them. Wouldn’t it be a shame if we got so caught up in the Christmas festivities that we miss the Christ of Christmas? We see an example of this – of someone overlooking the Creator and instead focused on the creation – in the Gospel of Luke.

In Luke 10:38-42, we read of Jesus and his disciples going to Mary and Martha’s house. Apparently, Martha was a great cook because we see Jesus taking His hungry disciples to her house several times throughout the Gospels. As Jesus and His disciples are talking and relaxing, Martha was busy in the kitchen preparing a meal for the hungry men. As the night waned and their hunger grew, Martha began to feel the pressure of delivering a savory meal to thirteen men, one of them being the Son of God.

At that moment a light went off in Martha’s head, “Hey! Where’s my sister? I could really use some help in here!” As she peered into the living room where her guests were, Martha saw her sister Mary, just sitting as Jesus’s feet. Frustrated by what Martha perceived as Mary’s idleness, Martha went to Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40, NIV).

But Jesus didn’t submit to Martha’s request. Instead, He responds by saying, “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).

It’s interesting when you read this passage closely to see what really was frustrating Martha. While Mary was sitting at Jesus’s feet learning from Him, “…Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made…” (Luke 10:40, NIV, bold mine). Did you get that? What type of preparations distracted Martha? Preparations that had to be made.

This wasn’t Martha getting distracted by watching the latest episode of American Idol or meeting her best friend at Starbucks for coffee. These were things that needed to be done and needed to be done now. This was “The business proposal is due in three hours.” This was, “I have to buy the groceries, cook the dinner, and clean the house…all after work tonight.” This was, “The bills are due on Thursday but my pay check comes in on Friday.”

Isn’t it easy to get distracted by all the preparations that have to be completed during this busy Christmas season? We get sidetracked by all the gifts that have to be purchased, the meals that have to be made, and the bills that have to be paid and forget the reason we are doing all of this in the first place. Christmas is a time to celebrate the ultimate gift given. God sent, “…His Son to be the Savior of the world” (1 John 4:14, NIV).

This Christmas season, let me challenge you to fix your eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2) just as He told Martha to do in Luke 10. Of course, this is always much easier said in theory than practically applied.  But if you follow the advice of 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NIV, bold mine), you will be on the right track to keeping God at the center of His own birthday celebration. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

As you are buy presents, cook the Christmas dinner, put up decorations, or simply go about your daily schedule, do all with an attitude and effort that glorifies God. In this way, you will be obeying His commands and as we read in 1 John 5:3 (NIV), “This is love for God: to obey His commands…”

Won’t you make that your goal this Christmas season, to glorify Him in all you do? Don’t be like Martha who allowed extracurricular activities to distract her from the “one thing” that mattered. Instead, like the Texans at the Battle of San Jacinto, remember what we’re here for. Never forget that Jesus is the true reason for the season.

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©Grant Gaines 2013