When I read the story of Mary and Martha, one thing always used to come to mind. “God, I wish I could lay on the floor all day. Wouldn’t that be nice?” In my cynicism, I'd think “How unrealistic.”
I’ve been studying this passage of scripture now for about three weeks. It’s a short passage but it’s packed with so much. I’m sure you’ve heard it preached about from time to time or have come across some devotional regarding it. I think these 4 verses bring up a lot of emotions for the average woman. I think we’ve all been in Martha’s shoes or longed to be more like Mary. The standing challenge I’ve accepted for my life recently has been to look at scripture not with eyes to see what it has for me, instead- with eyes to see what it shows me about God. In this case, the person of Jesus. What does this passage of scripture show me about His character? How can it help me to better understand Him?
As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 New Living Translation
The language of this text varies depending on which translation you read.
“Martha, my beloved Martha. Why are you upset and troubled, pulled away by all these many distractions? Are they really that important? Mary has discovered the one thing most important by choosing to sit at my feet. She is undistracted, and I won’t take this privilege from her.” The Passion Translation
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Or only one. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” English Standard Version
“Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” The Message
Jesus was only in this house for a short period of time. I’m sure He was aware of the effort made to welcome him and facilitate an atmosphere where He could continue His ministry. Why didn’t He appreciate Martha for allowing that? Why didn’t He affirm her dedication to His cause? What did He see that I might not be seeing in this situation? Sure, she tattled on her sister- but we’ve all been there. Why does Jesus hold Mary’s choice as more important and how can this help me to understand Him more in my own life?
In the English Standard Version, shown above, Jesus says of Mary “She is undistracted and I won’t take this privilege away from her.”
Well of course she’s not distracted! Someone else is doing all of the work! Again, what am I missing? Sometimes you can read the same passage over and over again but still miss seeing God in all of it. Maybe we’re reading it to find justification for ourselves. Maybe we’re reading it wishing the story ended differently.
I unapologetically have so much empathy for Martha. She’s in a tight spot. I used to think the tight spot was “to sit or to serve” but I’m realizing it’s more than that. For Martha, the tight spot becomes, “how can I serve God and NOT think about how it affects me?” She’s trying to serve her Master and play hostess, put a smile on, and all she feels is bitterness and anger. She's designed to be a server and Jesus says sitting is better? She’s left feeling misunderstood and ashamed. I’m sure that’s not where she thought she’d end up when she invited the Master into her living room. I feel for Martha because so often, I am her.
In this passage we see how Jesus reads the temperature of the room and invites us to draw near when we’re stressed or overwhelmed. He is quick to remind us where our priorities should be. Notice He doesn’t say “Martha, Martha, come sit with us.” He knows Martha’s role as the “do-er”, not the “sitter”- but He wants her to prioritize Him as the focus of her serving. Her serving had become about Mary. Every dish she washed or plate she served, she was probably thinking “ugh. I shouldn’t be doing all of this. She should be helping me.” Maybe even to the point of mocking her sister in her head “oh, Jesus. You’re the greatest. I’m just so happy you’re here. Can I sit here? Wow, you’re amazing. Blah blah blah.”
Comparison is the thief of joy. Comparison comes from doubting that what I’m doing or what I have is enough. Doubt comes from Satan, so Satan is the thief of our joy. He wants nothing more than to plant seeds of bitterness and doubt in our hearts when we are serving others. He undoubtedly wants our comparison to rob us of relationships and most importantly, the awareness of the presence of God in our midst.
Friends, Jesus knows our heart. Not only that- but Jesus knows the heart of those we’re frustrated with. Perhaps if Mary had an attitude of refusal to help, Jesus would have called her out on it. He doesn’t though. His reprimand falls to Martha. Helping us to preserve His presence over all other things is His primary concern. Over serving, even! He’s basically saying to Martha “I am the most important thing in the room.” Not the people I brought with me, not even the lessons I am teaching. It’s me. In her service of Him, she neglected to acknowledge the importance of His presence to others and the varying effects it has on them.
Jesus calls us out all of the time, doesn’t He? We feel the Holy Spirit calling us to stop being grumpy or bitter in our serving. Jesus uses the Holy Spirit to say “who is this about? Let’s make sure it’s about me. Because when it’s about me, You're never in it alone.”
This week, Colette and I planned, executed, and hosted a Halloween party in our front yard. I must confess that parties are usually a stressful time for me. The planning is fun, but the days leading up can drive me to tears with the amount of pressure I put on myself to perform and entertain. Thank God for this passage of scripture. It was the least stressful party I’ve probably ever planned. Any time I started to feel overwhelmed, I’d think back to this passage and invite Jesus to send His Holy Spirit to comfort and redirect my heart.
Jesus was most certainly present in the laughter of the children, the smudges on the cupcakes, and the joy in my heart was as abundant as the peace I felt having friends over. Every dish I washed and piece of trash I picked up the evening after? I didn’t do it alone. Jesus was there with me as we thought “this is the better thing.” Friends, you don’t have to be laying on the floor to be near God. The better thing is knowing Him and learning from Him in all things. Seeking His compassion and His character in all things.
When faced with that tight spot “do I sit or do I serve?” Make room for both in your heart. Never let His presence leave you. In your chaos and your quiet. In your coming and your going. May He be ever with you. All the affirmation you’ll ever need is that you invited Him into your home and He came.
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