Martha, Martha

The story of Mary and Martha resonates with me on a deep level perhaps because I see so much of myself. I long to be Mary, content sitting at the feet of Jesus, dwelling in his peace. But my natural (fleshly) tendencies are far more similar to Martha.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” ~ Luke 10:38-42

What can we learn from these sisters?

To welcome Jesus in my home, even today

And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. Luke 10:38

Yes, she was wrong about some things, but this Martha did well. She welcomed the Lord into her home. We may not physically be welcoming Jesus into our houses, but we either receive or reject him and his teaching in our lives.

To find joy in hospitality

“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ~ Luke 10:40

Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 1 Peter 4:9

It is so very human to be burdened by the thought of serving and caring for another. But that kind of attitude reveals that I care more about what I do and how my house looks than I do about the hearts that have entered my home. The homes we ourselves feel most comfortable in are often not the ones that are always “picked up” or have the best menus but the ones in which we feel loved.

To not let the urgent distract me from the eternal

But Martha was distracted with much serving. Luke 10:40

This is a constant struggle. We are distracted by so much in our lives, and the devil knows this. Serving is usually a good thing, and the Lord himself served others. And yet, even good things can become a distraction from the presence of God himself.

To know that he sees the burdens on my heart

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things” ~ Luke 10:41

Jesus already knew what weighed on Martha’s heart. He knew her burdens and worries. He also knew that she did not have to carry them anymore.

That my actions show the state of my heart

“Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Luke 10:40-41

Martha was not concerned with learning from Christ but with her own efforts. Her goal was not the same as Jesus’s goal, and that should be a sobering thought for our own lives as well. Are we letting our pride make the decisions? Our insecurities? Or leaning on the Lord’s will?

The cure for my stubborn aching heart is time spent at his feet.

And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ~ Luke 10:39

The Psalmist says it like this:

When the cares of my heart are many,
your consolations cheer my soul. ~ Psalm 94:19

When we spend time with Christ, we find that our hearts are strengthened and our priorities realigned.

What’s given to Jesus cannot be taken away

Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her. ~ Luke 10:42

Mary chose to listen to Christ, to sit at his feet, and to dwell in his presence. But none of these are tangible tasks. I cannot mark my progress on a chart nor catalog tasks accomplished on a list. And yet, it is those very invisible, eternal things that we get to hold onto forever.

but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ~ Matthew 6:20

May we all learn to choose that same good portion as Mary.

Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash