Martha and Mary

To tell you the truth, I've always sort of felt like Martha gets a bad rap in this story. I think that those of us who have the gift of service or just enjoy serving probably have the hardest time with it. However, a couple months ago, the story popped into my head and I started meditating on it. I now have a different perspective. Here's the story: Luke 10:38-42New International Version (NIV) At the Home of Martha and Mary 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.” So, I always thought, "well someone needed to be taking care of things." But then I realized how ridiculous that is. Martha had the Incarnate God of the Universe in her living room. No-one needed to cook and clean at that moment. Martha actually had the audacity to order Jesus to make Mary help her. Sadly, I realize sometimes I talk to God that way. Mary had chosen to sit at the feet of Jesus, worshiping Him and learning from Him. She had chosen to dwell in the shelter of the Most High that I talked about last time. Martha, on the other hand, chose to worry and fret and work when she too could have been sitting at the feet of Jesus. That focus on Jesus would have given her the strength she needed when it was the right time to serve. As I thought about this, the insight occurred to me that Mary was demonstrating her need for Jesus by sitting at His feet and learning from Him. On the other hand, Martha's attitude seems to suggest that she felt that Jesus needed her. Don't we sometimes do that? We think, "I have so much to do I don't have time for Bible study and prayer." How often do we get our priorities out of whack by trying to serve God when we have not been "sitting at His feet?" Our relationship with Him needs to be our number one priority if we are to be of any service to Him. Before we try to go out and do great things for God, let's spend time in His word and in prayer. Then He will be able to work through us to accomplish His will. Jesus often went off by Himself to pray. How do we think we can get by with less?