I have struggled with what I can only name as the Martha Complex. I have often spent my time spinning my wheels
and running around like a chicken with its head cut off “serving” the Lord. My idea
of serving was completely distorted and included “doing” instead of just being. I wanted to do more for God as if I was earning His love, attention and
grace. I wanted to do more for people to
show my love for God through my actions. I was making a huge mistake and misstep. I had to ask really ask myself, “Who am I really serving, God or myself?” I
have found myself making demands from God and including a list of all I had
done and asking the same question that Martha asked, “Lord, don’t you care?”
We can learn a lot from Martha and Mary. We live in a world with more Martha’s than
Mary’s. Let’s refresh on the short story
with a big lesson.
As Jesus and his
disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened
her home to him. She had a sister called
Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations
that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my
sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me! "Martha, Martha," the Lord
answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,
but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will
not be taken away from her. (Luke
10:38-42 NIV)
Let’s first look at what Martha did:
- She opened her home to Jesus.
- She was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made.
- Asked Jesus if He cared that her sister had left her to do all the work herself.
- Made a demand from Jesus; “Tell her to help me!”(vs. 40)
- She was worried and upset about many things.
Now let’s look at the
opposite approach Mary took:
- She sat at the Lords feet listening to what He said.
- Did the one thing that was needed.
- She chose what was better.
My initial reaction looking
at the two lists above is that Martha did a lot more but was left with no
peace, while Mary did less and yet was thoroughly able to be worry free and at
peace basking in the presence of her Savior. I don’t know about you, but I want to be the latter of these two
ladies.
Are we
distracted by all the work we are doing? If we are, it will only leave us feeling
cheated, frustrated, overlooked, unappreciated and/or jealous. Did Jesus ask Martha to do all those things she was doing? Where did we get this attitude of
always having to go and do? The
world. The world tells us that we must
always be going and doing, and if we are not then we will be unfulfilled and
lazy. As Kingdom people, we should know
better. The Bible is very clear on this:
For by
grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the
gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may
boast. (Ephesians 2:9 NIV)
My favorite part of the story is the way in which Jesus
responds to Martha. Jesus saw that
Martha was upset, and He addressed her concern and complaint compassionately. He did not get angry and dismiss her, but
instead calmly acknowledged her and explained what the priority was. He gave
Martha a heart and attitude check, but in the most lovingly way possible. It
makes me fall even more in love with Jesus. Even when we are acting childishly
and demanding things while wallowing in self-pity, the Lord is still so kind
and gentle with us. He is the most patient and loving father.
What can we learn from Martha?
- We know she was hospitable and loved Jesus because she opened her home to Him with no questions asked.
- She was a hard worker, but overlooked the most important things; time with Jesus and listening to what He had to say. Time with Jesus trumps everything else.
- Her worries multiplied when she was doing too much and if she would have instead sat at the feet of Jesus, those worries would have dissipated. A distracted heart will leave you anxious and out of tune with what Jesus may be trying to tell you.
- Our attitude and hearts priority should be continually asking, “Jesus, what do you want me to do?”
Our proper perspective should always be this:
“Salvation isn’t about what I do; it’s
about what Jesus did.”- Joanna Weaver
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