Seems like an odd question for a guy to ask himself, but it is an important one in the life of a Christian. We were visiting Terri's home church
in Hutch today and the pastor, Rick
, was discussing the Transfiguration
. Along the way he quoted a very profound passage in Luke about two sisters, Mary and Martha. This is a challenging passage because it serious challenges the way most churches in America operate. It's a personal challenge for me because I find myself identifying with Martha when I ought to identify myself with Mary.
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 (ESV)
Essentially, Christ has told Martha that Mary really has the right idea and that Martha is choosing a lesser way. Jesus doesn't exactly rebuke Martha, but you do get the feeling that he's at least scolding her a bit for her attitude.
I've heard some messages in the past where the pastor has tried to say that Martha was doing a good thing until she tried to get Jesus to scold Mary, but that's not at all what I read here. Jesus starts with, "Martha, Martha," which already sounds like scolding to me, I suppose I could be misreading this through the lens of my own culture, but that's what it reads to me.
He continues, "you are anxious and troubled about many things." This can't be complimentary. Christ has already been on the record as scolding his disciples for worrying about food and clothing. "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?" (Matthew 6:27
ESV) Similarly, he is telling Martha that all her fussing isn't really necessary, "but only one thing is necessary." Focus on Christ, that's the one thing. He's tell Martha, "really, you should stop fussing and listen to me because my teaching is way more important than your preparations."
Now, don't get me wrong, he's not telling Martha she's being foolish or that her effort has been wasted. He's merely telling her that of the two things she could be doing now, listening to his teaching is the better. If Martha had gone about her preparations content, it seems that we might not have even had this object lesson recorded for us.
Fortunately, Martha's bad attitude was remembered well enough that it was recorded for us to read because this little vignette tells us something important: dedication to Jesus is more important than working to serve him. What did Mary do? She "sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching." She wasn't really doing anything but listening.
The lesson for me is that when I feel compelled to work on this project or that project in an attempt to please God, I'm not spending my time as wisely as I could if I haven't first taken the time to listen to Christ's teaching. If my focus and attitude isn't on Jesus and his ways first and foremost, I'm not really pleasing God as I could. If I'm not really pursuing my prayer and Bible study (or even just Bible reading) as the top priority in my life, I've missed it. Jesus doesn't condemn this work, but my work is really a secondary occupation to my first job of knowing Him who saved me.
For the Church, the question is, are we dedicated first and foremost to Christ's word? Or are we concerned with developing a good children's program? A good youth ministry? A good Sunday school or equipping program? Are we more concerned with developing our community than we are about knowing Jesus Christ? These are all good things and God won't condemn our efforts here, but we might find ourselves scolded on the other side of death for pursuing those works instead of pursuing Christ first.
Cheers.
Very nice.
I came across your page by googling my name, which is coincidentally very near yours. Your insight into the thoughts of an evangelical Christian are a great testament to the power of God, and a light in a dark world. I am an evangelical... a baptist, to be more specific. You have freshened my mind.
Mary or Martha
Hi there! I am one of your wife's fans. I am doing Weight Watchers now after being inspired by Terri's success.
My husband preached about the 'first and second commandments' in relation to being a Mary and a Martha. Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus while Martha chose to 'serve' Jesus 'in her own terms'. According to Esher Shoshannah, Martha didn't even ask Jesus what He wanted. When she got upset with her sister to the point of 'telling' Jesus that she should help her, what she was doing was she wanted Jesus to contradict himself by violating the first commandment He gave His people to fulfill which is 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength' which Mary did exactly. Martha provided the enemy a ground to work on by attempting to deprive Jesus of fellowship with Mary, at the same time, deprive Mary of her fellowship with her Beloved.
As we continually fulfill the first commandment, 'serving' (one of the expressions of the second commandment)becomes a joy and not a drudgery.
Most people nowadays tend to put the second commandment over the first commandment. This is the reason why there is a strong call for churches to produce more Marys. These 'Marys' understand true service because they first honored the first commandment.
Now, with regard to your question, I have the desire to be a Mary. Now, I just have to be one. It does not take much to be quiet and love up on Jesus on a daily basis but I have to ask for God's grace to 'declutter' my head of daily concerns. A lot is done/achieved when I sit at the feet of Jesus (for Marthas, this last statement would surely raise an eyebrow! :)
God bless you and your family.
Harvest
Rockford,IL
Hello Andrew, very interesting take on this 'famous story'.
For me, the story of Mary and Martha is one of breaking cultural stereotypes and taboos.
Jesus would have been fully aware of the cultural/traditional statues of the day and era, yet He was out to state that God transcended all culture and tradition!!
Personally, I like that fact that Martha was assertive and sure enough of herself (in Christ) to actually take her case to Him. It kind of confirms her faith in Him that only He could sort out the issue. After all, if He wasn’t there, we wouldn’t have this story to tell!
She could have started an argument with her sister, in front of their guest -thereby dishonouring Him the more, but she chose to take the matter to Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith.
Personally, I see her as doing exactly what the prophet Isaiah instructed us to do – reason with the Lord, knowing that our sins had been forgiven and forgotten!! (Isa. 1 vs. 18). Always an interesting story, with as many opinions as there are human beings - wonderful!!
Regards, best wishes & happy new year to you and yours.
Ike (Harrow Weald, Middx. UK)