I spent some time with Mary and Martha this week. The 2 sisters that witnessed Jesus’ amazing miracle of raising their brother, Lazarus, from the dead. Most of us have heard the familiar stories about these 2 women. The one I am speaking of today is given to us specifically in Luke 10:38-42 –
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. 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, but few things are needed—or indeed only one, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
There are several things we can take away from this story that will help us on our mission to Zambia. A lesson in “overs,” if you will.
Preference of Others over Self
When we look at Martha’s external appearance in verse 40a, we might just chock it up to servant hood, right? After all, she was thinking of everyone else. She was busy preparing her home and the meal for her guests, Jesus and the disciples. But her behavior proved otherwise. Her treatment of Mary proved a serious defect in her servant heart. She blatantly spoke to Jesus, not Mary, in order to humiliate her publicly, as well as her judgment upon Mary for what she was doing. She assumed she was being lazy.
Martha’s behavior shows how subtly and sinfully human pride can corrupt even our best of actions. The moment she stopped listening to Christ and made something other than Him the focus of her heart and attention, her perspective became very self-centered. Her pride led to anger, resentment, jealousy – a whirl wind of emotions that flowed over her in a matter of minutes. Because of this she fell into the trap Paul warns us about in 2 Corinthians 10:12 “We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”
Mary on the other hand, was doing precisely what Jesus desired. She was sitting as his feet, oblivious to anything else going on around her. She was so wrapped up in the moment, she wanted nothing less than to catch every word that Jesus had to say. She understood the true importance of this occasion. Which brings us to our next “over” –
Priority of Worship over Service
For some of us, our first inclination is to sympathize with Martha, not Mary. After all, it would be pretty normal for us to consider it rude that we are doing all the hard work in the kitchen while our younger sister is sitting around mingling with the guests. Nevertheless, “Mary has chosen what is better.” (v.42) A higher priority than service was true worship and devotion of one’s heart, with full attention to Christ. Her humble and obedient heart was a far greater gift to Christ than Martha’s well set-table.
This establishes worship as the highest of all priorities for every Christian. Nothing, including even service rendered to Christ, is more important than listening to Him and honoring Him with our hearts. John 4:23 states, “Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.”
It is a danger, even for people who love Christ, that we not become so concerned with doing things for Him that we begin to neglect hearing Him and remembering what He has done for us.
To Sum It Up
God uses all kinds of people. He has gifted us differently for a reason. Martha was a noble and godly woman who invited Jesus into her home, whom had a servant’s heart and a high capacity for hard work. Mary gives us insight and wisdom of what it is like to worship by sitting at God’s feet, letting nothing else get between her and Jesus. Both were remarkable in their own ways. A good balance of each would be a wonderful example to follow. Let us pray that each of us will learn how we can use their gifts in a country like Zambia:
Father, thank you for giving us the living Word. We are grateful that you give us example after example of how we should live our lives. Upon our trip to Zambia, we are preparing for the work mission ahead of us. From cutting down trees and loads of laundry, to eye ministry and hut-to-hut discipleship – we prayerfully ask that our pride does not get in our way. We understand that the elements can by very trying in a country we are unfamiliar with and our sinful attitudes can turn sour when we feel wronged, hurt, neglected, or alone. Please remind us that it is not about us and is only for You.
We also pray that each of us will engage in moments of worship. You give us endless opportunities to spend time with You, sitting and listening at Your feet. But often times the work becomes priority. Remind us when we need to stop and spend time with You. Each of us comes to you as a true worshiper in the Spirit and in truth. We know that You are seeking this from us Father, and we pray that we remember this while on the mission field in Zambia.
In Jesus precious and holy name, Amen.
Many aspects of this devotional were used from the following:
MacArthur, John. Chapter 9 of Twelve Extraordinary Women: How God Shaped Women of the Bible and What He Wants to Do with You. Nashville, TN: Nelson, 2005. Pgs. 155-170. Print.
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