Keep the Main Thing . . .
The Main Thing
Charles C. Pugh III

I saw the above words on a bumper sticker. The message made me think. I thought about Martha who "was distracted with much serving" (Luke 10:40). Distracted is the translation of the original word in the text that means "to be over-occupied" (Thayer 505) or to "become or be distracted, quite busy, overburdened" (Arndt and Gingrich 656). Rogers says Martha "was drawn about in different directions" (135). In contrast, Mary, who was Martha's sister, kept the main thing the main thing as she sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word (Luke 10:39). Jesus said Mary had chosen "that good part, which will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42). There really was nothing wrong, intrinsically, with that with which Martha was over occupied. It just was not the main thing with which she should have been concerned. The main thing should have been the spiritual. She was distracted by the material or physical.

I also thought about the apostles. A situation developed in the church at Jerusalem with regard to benevolent work that needed attention (Acts 6: 1). The situation could have caused the apostles to leave their main work and become involved in what, for them, would have been a secondary work. The apostles said, "It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables ... Seek out seven men ... whom we may appoint over this business; but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word" (Acts 6:2-4). The daily distribution for needy widows was a good thing, but it was not the business of the apostles. Their daily business involved prayer, preaching, and teaching.

I also thought of something I read from the late Leroy Brownlow. He wrote, "Years ago I had a very insistent man to visit me. He explained that they were buying a camp for boys and girls. In these threatening times for young people, it would provide uplifting association, clean recreation, and even Bible study. He asked me, 'What do you think of it?' 'I think it's excellent,' was my reply. 'Then you'll get out there and call on church members and raise money to help pay for it?' 'No, I can't do that.' He continued, 'If you think it's excellent, then why can't you do it?' I responded, 'I believe it can be a fruitful endeavor. But, I have more work now than I can do. I can announce it, and I can pray for it, and I can personally give a little, but I can't do your job. I must stick with mine.'" Brownlow then observed, "Such requests to take me away from my own job - one for which I was employed - to engage in another has occurred many times. Since you can't do everything, you must decide which has priority and do it" (Give Us This Day, n.p.).

Bumper stickers do not often help me. However, this one did. “Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing!”