Mary and Martha

The first Christian, non-fiction manuscript I wrote was called On the Road to Jericho. It's an account of Jesus' last journey from Galilee to Jerusalem where he will be crucified and the teachings He shared along the way. Here is a condensed excerpt from one of the chapters:

(Read Luke 10:38-42)

            Jesus came to Bethany, where He liked to stop. Not only was it in a convenient location, not too far from Jerusalem, but He could stay with His good friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

Martha welcomed Him into her home and began preparing a meal. While Martha worried and worked in the kitchen to make things special for her guests, Mary, her sister, sat close to Jesus to hear what he had to say.

            Martha approached Jesus and asked, “Lord, dost thou not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me” (Luke 10:40).

            I have struggled with this story in the past, because I can understand where Martha was coming from. She wanted to give Jesus and His disciples a good meal, and she was stressing over trying to get everything done, while her sister sat with the guests. I’m sure many of you can emphasize with Martha, too. Over the years, I've learned that fellowship and enjoying the company is more important than trying to have all the details right. It might even be the sin of pride making us try so hard. We may want to be known as a good cook or good hostess. If so, we are seeking worldly recognition instead of seeking God’s favor.

            Martha wanted Mary to get up and help her, so the work would be finished sooner, and Martha and Mary could then both join Jesus. Martha must have felt alone and isolated at this time. She felt she was being treated unfairly, but was she?   

            Martha had chosen her isolation in the kitchen. She’d chosen to prepare an elaborate meal, instead of doing something simple, so she could sit with Jesus too. Martha had emphasized the trivial rather than the vital.

            How many times do we get caught up in relatively trivial matters, and fail to give time to our Lord. There’s no excuse for being “too busy” and neglecting devotions, Bible study, prayer, or worship. If you kept a log of your schedule each day, I’m sure you’d see where you could make time for what’s most important in your life. Could you watch a little less television, shave some time given to that special hobby of yours, limit your time on the computer, or not pick up that cell phone quite so often?

            My husband says if you’re too busy to come to church and worship God, then you’re too busy.  The crux of the issue is whether or not you put God first in your life. Is He really more important to you than anything else? How do your choices reflect that?

            Jesus answered Martha and said, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful; and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

            Focusing on serving Jesus is a good thing. But sometimes we can become so involved in doing good, we may miss out on the best. We need to take care how we manage our time and set our priorities so we have a close relationship with Him, hear His calls, and follow where He leads.

            Both Martha and Mary had made their choices. Martha had chosen the trivial, earthly choice instead of the longer lasting growing of her faith. It’s a matter of priorities. Where do your priorities lie?

  Martha’s choice of taking care of Jesus’ earthly needs wasn't wrong, but Mary’s choice of taking care of spiritual matters was better. We normally have time to do both, but if there comes a time when you must make this choice, what will you choose? Do you choose certain earthly things over your opportunities to learn more and grow in faith? What is really important to you? Do you truly put God above everything else in your life? Do your choices reflect this?  Pray about it:

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