Have you misplaced your affection or in the words of the
“Righteous Brothers”, have you lost that loving feeling and now it’s gone, gone, gone!
It happened to the Ephesians; they left their first love; they misplaced their affection.
It happened to Demas; he forsook Paul having loved this present world; he misplaced his affection.
1 Kings 3:3 (NIV)
3 Solomon showed his love for the Lord by walking according to the instructions given him by his father David,
except that he offered sacrifices and burned incense on the high places.
The word
“except” means that Solomon’s affections weren’t fully placed on the Lord; he had misplaced his affection.
It happened to the disciples when they became busy waiting tables instead of praying and preaching; they misplaced their affection.
Paul warned that in the last days; men will be lovers of their own selves; misplaced affection.
Also, they would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God; misplaced affection.
Martha was so busy in the kitchen making preparations until she didn’t take time to sit at the Master’s feet; she had misplaced her affection.
It can happen to any of us and it does happen!
Jesus often visited the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany. As soon as Jesus came into their home; Mary immediately sat down at His feet to listen to His words of Spirit and life.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving.
The Amplified Bible says that Martha was very busy and distracted with all her serving responsibilities. There are a lot of Martha's, who show their love for Jesus by doing for Him.
They’re always involved in some sort of service for the Lord.
James said faith without works is dead and to be doers of the word and not hearers only. So, James would have appreciated Martha and all the Martha’s who serve today. There are things to do and things that need to be done.
But doing things can never be a substitute for worship. We can become so busy serving until we don’t take the time to worship! Martha felt it was her duty; she was the oldest and felt that it was what was expected of her; it became her main focus. When she looked around and saw Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus; she got angry that she was having to do all the work by herself.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
How many times have we asked the Lord the same question? How many times have we asked Him out of frustration, Lord, don’t you care?
Mark 4:38
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
Martha said, Lord don’t you care that my sister is not helping me with all this work? Mary made a conscious decision that being at the feet of Jesus was more important than anything else.
If being at the feet of Jesus is not more important to us than anything else; we have misplaced our affection.
