But I am a Martha….

The story of Mary and Martha used to make me mad.  It wasn’t fair and I couldn’t see how Martha did anything wrong.  Seriously…up until college I questioned Jesus because Mary did not help Martha.  (Is my lion personality coming out strong or what?)

In college I realized that it was about the focus.  What was important at that moment.

Read the passage with me…

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him.  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!” “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. Luke 10:38-42

While studying the Beatitudes in Kay Arthur’s book Lord, Only You Can Change Me, the Holy Spirit unwrapped even more of this Biblical passage.  Read what Kay Arthur had to say:

Did you notice that the very thing Martha was doing for Jesus drew her away from the Lord?  That’s what distracted means.  And this can happen to you.  You can become so busy, so involved in the work of the Lord, that you actually diminish your hunger and thirst for righteousness [see Matthew 5:6].  Remember, doing is secondary in the Christian life.  The primary thing is being.  What you do will be worth only as much as who you are!

I am a doer.  Frankly, God made me this way.  But God created this to be my secondary not my primary part of life.  I see it in so many areas.  I am so busy doing that I forget to be.

This story use to make me mad because I thought it was wrong.  Now it makes me mad because it is so stinkin’ convicting.  {smile}

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