Have you ever had a week of polar opposites? You know, a time where you make great strides in achieving exercise goals, but then failing in your diet goals. The choice to run was a good one, the choice to eat more than four cookies in one day… not so much. CHOICES! God help us. Fitness is a common thought. "If I could just lose about 5-10 pounds" or "you know, if I could exercise for the next month. doing 2-3 days per week, I'll be able to fit into that..." The truth is, sometimes while we are focusing on a good thing, success facts and focus.

You see, health is wealth. Facts. And, wealth is built over time because of focused decisions. You can get rich quick by focusing on making a lot of money quickly, but the fact of the matter is that you cannot get wealthy quickly. You can get a lump sum of money fast, but your credit score is changed from consistent and timely debt reduction, on-time bill payments, and managing your open credit accounts (Go Here For More). We need to pay our bills on time. But, we also need to be intentional to reduce debt by paying more than the minimum whenever possible, because it helps decrease interest as well as principle. The key to focusing on anything is realizing that timing is everything.

When you fix your focus, you can see its not just a matter of the right choices, but the right choices over time. It's a matter of focus. Anybody can win the lottery, but it takes focus and faithfulness (read: discipline) to defeat poverty. 

There are many stories in the bible about Jesus and his disciples going on ministry trips. In one of those stories, while they were on their way to Jerusalem Jesus and his disciples stopped by Bethany. The choice to stop is an interesting one. If you go back through the earlier passages of scripture that precede this story in the book of Luke in chapter 10, the focus is on "focus." The first 2/3 of the chapter centers on Jesus sending out 72 followers. Jesus challenges his disciples not to focus on the results that they see, exorcisms and supernatural victories over wickedness and high places. Instead, Jesus tells them to focus on being written in the record of heaven. In other words keep your focus. It kind of challenges the saying "so heavenly minded, that you're no earthly good." Because evidently the mind of the kingdom of heaven is on people. "For God so loved that he gave…"

The setting of the story we're focusing on today takes place in the village of Martha and Mary. According to a separate passage of scripture, John 11, we know that Bethany is the name of the village we’re reading about in Luke. Bethany. Part of the root word for Bethany is Beth. "House." Bethany very likely means "house of the poor."

Isn't it interesting that Jesus would stop by Bethany. We just referenced the first 24 verses of chapter 10, where Jesus sent out the 72 disciples to villages along the way to Jerusalem. He enlisted the help of these volunteers to pound the pavement for the campaign of the Messiah's arrival and enlist those that would believe to join the forces of the kingdom of heaven. Can you imagine the excitement? Can you imagine the energy? Jesus' disciples were probably looking for a something big to happen. I could see them wanting to turn the world upside down with revival services and worship nights that spilled into the streets like holy riots. 

And yet, while on their way, Jesus stops at Bethany. In the rabbinic tradition, Bethany is thought to have been the location of an almshouse, sort of like a ancient non-profit dedicated to the poor. I can see the disciples not being too interested in spending much time there. I can see their impatience. I can see their confusion. I can see their wonder wane away as Jesus walks in this humbled town. 

But, then we are introduced to another set of characters. First, we meet Martha. She welcomes Jesus and his disciples into her home. Now, the text is not clear as to whether it was the twelve or the 70+ but either way, having guests in the double digits can be quite the task. All of the preparations, all of the help that is needed. Martha meets Jesus with a frantic wipe of her hands on her apron and small streak of flour and sweat across her brow. As she labored furiously to furnish a presentable spread, we meet her sister Mary. Mary was cut from a different cloth. She was intuitive and lived in the moment. Not focusing on what people think, she sat at Jesus feet as they conversed around a fire in the living room. She was not worried about dinner or even eating for that matter. She was not bothered by the snickers of the disciples as they mocked the run down block that she lived on. She didn't care because she knew that her village would never be the same after this moment. She knew that her community would forever be changed by this personal encounter she was having with Jesus. She sat right there in the middle of the floor, not because she was inept or couldn't cook but, because she was focused on following this fellow from Nazareth.

Sometimes the greatest work we can do to fight oppression is to focus on freedom for ourselves. How can you release captives when you are still bound? How can you free the oppressed when you are still under another's control? I believe this passage compels us to be like Mary, choose to focus on freedom. Don't be distracted by decorum. Having this degree by this age, being married before this time, getting a raise after that project. These things are good. But, the pursuit of them at the expense of an encounter with Jesus is like working your whole life just to make a million dollars only to die having a million dollars in debt. You’ve got to fix your focus. Focus on the things that will last. Focus on what will stand the test of time. Focus on what will be worth your investment of time in the end.