Perhaps by now you know I like to revisit bible accounts and see how they apply to our lives today. What is God teaching us that if we choose to apply the lessons would vastly improve our lives, placing us on another trajectory of success? Yes, that's a mouthful so let's visit Martha and Mary's house during Jesus' visit with them.
The Scripture tells us in Luke 10:
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary,who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 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!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
What we are seeing here is that Martha invited Jesus to her home and immediately began doing what she thought was required of her. Yet, she did not take the time to inquire what He wanted. Martha had taken charge, this was her home after all. Therefore, she assumed her role was to prepare a meal for Him. That's what she did for her guests, so that is what she focused on. She did not stop to find out what would best serve Him. Yes, people have to eat but it's not every day the Son of God comes to your house -- IN PERSON!
Another thing we see is that the first thing that Mary did was sit at Jesus' feet to listen to what he said. Wow! I'm already impressed with this woman. In all fairness, Martha did what 90% of women would have done. After all, I have invited this very important Person to my house and I must serve him well. But Mary, from most accounts was being lazy and just chilling with the Guest. But this account has already assessed Martha's agenda as a distraction, saying she was "distracted by all the preparations." Mary chose to sit, listen, and observe. Who was the wiser one? Who better assessed the opportunity at hand? Well, let's keep going, because Jesus lays it out without mincing words.
She [Martha] came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
Martha was not happy just going about her preparations, really distractions, on her own; she wanted help. Does that sound familiar? She figured, "why should Mary be hanging out with the Guest while I'm working my fingers to the bone to serve our Guest AND Mary?" No, she was not having it. She marched right out of the kitchen into the area where Jesus and Mary were sitting and proceeded to tell the Lord the situation,(as if he hadn't noticed) and what He should do. She wasn't too presumptuous, right? That makes me realize the degree to which Jesus had allowed people to get close to Him? He clearly did not lord it over people even though He WAS and IS Lord.
So, yes, Martha was focusing on something; but was it the right thing? We find that according to Jesus, the answer is "no."
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Two short sentences, 4 crucial lessons to Marthas:
1. Jesus chastised her for being worried and upset. He does to like that especially when He is IN THE HOUSE.
2. At any given time, we don't have to be running around trying to accomplish everything. Jesus said few, no only ONE thing was needed at that time and it was being with Him in His presence not the running around we often kid ourselves or accept pressure from others, that this and that is necessary. Jesus said, just the one thing is necessary and Mary had chosen to do it.
3. Mary, the lazy and perhaps seen as the clueless one not correctly assessing the situation, had chosen the right thing to do. The childlike thing to the world but the wise thing to Jesus. How worldly we can be when we think that the activity is the thing that gets notice from heaven. No, the one who humbly, listening and attending to whatever the Master was saying, had chosen to do the right thing.
4. Those who are flowing according to God's desires will not be cut of from doing the best thing. He simply will not be pressured by the distracted to deny the ones doing the right thing. Many are doing good things and engaging in good work but it is not the best because Christ has not approved it. They have presumed that God wants all this activity and endless projects, but in the end these things make them look good. Heaven is not impressed by man-focused activity even when claims are made that they will glorify God. God is not mocked by these claims. We need to assess our motives for the activities we do.
WHY WAS MARTHA SO FOCUSED ON THE PREPARATIONS WHEN JESUS WAS IN SUCH CLOSE PROXIMITY AND SO VERY ACCESSIBLE?
My thoughts from her actions and words are, Martha was:
1. worldly
2. a perfectionist
3. focused on man's opinion
4. concerned about her reputation
5. presuming she knew what Jesus wanted
Here is why Martha was wrong and why we can learn so well from her mistake. It's found in Philippians 4:6, Paul's later writing so that we do do not make the same mistake. Thank God it's not a writing she would have had access to - yet Truth was in her home.Truth had already said in John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God believe also in Me." Here is the Holy Spirit's mandate through Paul in Philippians 4:6-7.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The first thing Martha did wrong was being anxious and worried, although we understand the honored Guest she had in her home; but this was not just any Guest. Once He left, there was no guarantee He would be back -- at least not in that way.
The second thing she did wrong was in failing to ask Him what He wanted. She presumed that the transaction had to be one way, her serving and giving to Him, while all the time it was she who needed to receive from Him.
The third thing was, at least we do not see it, she did not take the time to appreciate and enjoy the fact that the Lord was in her house! THE LORD WAS IN HER HOUSE!! She could have chosen to receive a wealth by sitting at His feet and really asking for anything. The God of Phil 4:6 was in her house and she was missing out big time! (Again she would not have needed Paul's writings to know the right thing to do. Her sister Mary already knew and did it.)
Consequently, she was worried and distracted instead of at peace in God's presence. Martha was missing out on the very therapy she needed for her worried soul. Had she been in a teachable more humble state of being, she would have been better off and Jesus would not have had to rebuke and refuse her as He did.
Recap of Philippians 4:6 Mandate:
1. Don't worry about anything;
2. in every situation pray and petition the Lord;
3. be thankful (for every 1 thing we need, we have about 100 we can be thankful for);
4. Let God know in detail what you need (even though He already knows); as this shows our humility in not being able to provide for ourselves
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
In other words, Martha, "no. I will not tell Mary to come and help you. You sit down and do the better thing that Mary has already chosen to do from the beginning by sitting with me."[Paraphrasing of course but in the spirit of what Jesus was saying.]
May we all choose the better thing, sitting in His presence getting His heart on matters, seeking what He wants us to say and do instead of presuming or listening to someone else who is also distracted worrier. Doing puts us in control when we have not been given a mandate from Him.This takes us further out of touch with God and keeps us in an unhealthy cycle of doing rather than being.
There is more and in Part II, we will talk about those who are today's Martha. Hint: They impress you with their "success."
TO BE CONTINUED ...
