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Lately, I’ve been coming home from church on Sundays feeling like I spent the week being just too busy. I justify it by telling myself that I’m taking care of my responsibilities, and that, after all, is virtuous, isn’t it? But this morning, I was listening to a sermon online, and the pastor briefly mentioned the story of Mary and Martha found in Luke 10.
For those who aren’t as familiar with that story, here’s a recap: Jesus stops at the home of two sisters – Mary and Martha. The two sisters had completely different responses to Jesus’ visit. Martha instantly got to work, making preparations for the unexpected visit. I imagine there was fuss about food to be made and tidying up to do. Mary, on the other hand, sat right at the feet of Jesus, just taking in his presence. Martha didn’t like this one bit. Here she was doing all the hard work to make her guest feel comfortable, while Mary just sat around talking. And she wasn’t quiet about her disapproval of her sister’s actions….or lack thereof. No, she complained to Jesus, seemingly wanting validation at her frustration. But Jesus didn’t agree with her. He said to Martha, “…you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
I can only imagine Martha maybe felt a little bit of indignation at his response. I mean, she was working hard to make sure Jesus was comfortable! She was serving!
But maybe I imagine she felt indignation because I use Martha’s rationale on a daily basis to justify my busyness. Certainly, running my own business, keeping a clean house, running kids to all their activities…all of those things are good, right? By taking care of my family, I’m doing the Lord’s work.
Well, yes. I believe those things are doing the Lord’s work. And I don’t think Jesus was trying to say that those things aren’t important.
But Jesus doesn’t want us to forsake our relationship with him in order to do those things. There is a hierarchy we must follow. Time with Jesus should always come first.
Ok, but back to my dilemma. How does that practically look in my day to day life?! How do I be a Mary in a Martha world? I’m not the type of person to neglect my responsibilities. God wants us to be good stewards of what He’s assigned to us. But wait…are all of my responsibilities assigned to me by God….or have I assigned them to myself?
Ouch, I think I know the answer to my dilemma. I maybe have been taking on more than I should. We do live in a very “Martha” society. A society that glorifies being busy, going a million miles an hour, being a part of every group and club, filling our schedules with sports practice, dance class, and music lessons. Working more than we probably need to just so we can do things like spend our time shopping for more stuff. Stuff we don’t need. But we think we need it, right? I mean, a new holiday is coming up…I must buy all the cute decorations!
Sigh. I am a Martha in a Martha world. But I want to be a Mary.
I know I’m going to be taking inventory of my schedule. God, in His goodness, is gently convicting me to let go of the empty things the world promises to give me if I just do a little more. He is inviting me to make more time to sit at His feet, resting in His presence.
I invite you to join me. Let’s learn how to be a Mary in a Martha world.
