In Good TimePrimjer

Time’s Distraction

Cal Newport is a time-management guru. His approach, however, isn’t to multiply the minutes by heroic feats of productivity. Instead, his more recent book titles—Deep Work, Digital Minimalism, and A World Without Email—reveal his interest in helping people guard against distraction. He wants them to turn off their smartphones, disconnect, and mind their focus.

We can’t manage our time as much as we can manage our attention. Everyone has a daily allotment of 24 hours. Time’s test, in a pinging, buzzing world of notifications, is resisting distraction in our lives. Can we be fully present wherever we are, attuned to the still, small voice of our loving God?

In the familiar story of Mary and Martha, we have a vivid illustration of what it looks like to be distracted from the kingdom priority Jesus set out in the Sermon on the Mount. These two sisters are each doing valuable kingdom work. Mary has chosen to take a seat at Jesus’s feet and to learn from his teaching. Her posture is that of a student, and she has devoted herself to hearing the words of her rabbi.

Mary’s sister, Martha, welcomes Jesus into her house. Her work—no less “holy” than Mary’s—isn’t to sit at Jesus’ feet but rather involves the kind of hospitality commended in the previous story in Luke’s gospel, that of the Good Samaritan. She is feeding Jesus and his disciples, making it possible for them to carry on their kingdom work of preaching and teaching the good news.

The sisters’ work reveals their allegiance to seeking first the kingdom of God. The problem for Martha, in this case, isn’t the task but the distraction. Jesus says that she is distracted with much “ministry,” as the Greek word is often translated. She’s thinking first and foremost about setting the table, roasting the turkey, and timing the rolls. In all that commendable effort, she has forgotten the one necessary thing Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount. If she sought first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, wouldn’t the table and the turkey and the timing of the rolls be added to her?

We can devote our time to worthy kingdom projects and yet be distracted from the most necessary thing in life: living in surrendered trust in the God who made us and loves us.