Today’s Daily Bread ~ My Martha-ness

Luke 10:40-42 (AKJV) – But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said to her, Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Show me a working mom, and I’ll show you a Martha. I’m the biggest Martha I know.  In fact, I have to try very hard (and usually fail) to curb my Martha-ness.

The “Martha vs. Mary” showdown in Luke is a fascinating story to me.  At first glance (and second and third for Martha’s like me) Martha seems to be in the right.  Society today would certainly applaud her.  Jesus, the promised Messiah, comes for dinner.  And like a good hostess, Martha is scurrying around, cleaning and cooking while Mary sits at the feet of her Lord, soaking up every word.  And Martha is angry.  I would be too.

I love to have a party.  At least, I think I do.  Because what invariably happens is this:  I don’t give myself enough time to prepare for it.  I’m always scurrying to the store on the day of to pick of last minute items.  Then I’m racing around the house at breakneck pace, vacuuming, picking up toys, and leaping over kids.  Then it’s the fastest shower I can possibly take, hair, make-up, clothes, then leaping down the last three stairs to answer the doorbell.  I never have the snacks put out in time, so I’m doing that as guests arrive.  Then scramble to get dinner out, scarf down a few bites between pleasantries, dessert, refill glasses, and then before I’ve even had a chance to sit down people are leaving.  And all the while my husband moves smoothly from guest to guest, chatting, cracking jokes, and making people feel welcome.  And as the last guest leaves, he says, “Wasn’t that fun?”  I throw a dish towel at his head and stomp off to clean.  Hi.  My name is Martha.  And I’m a busy-aholic.

I wanted to really dig around in these verses, look at the original language and see if I could find any hidden nuggets.  Boy, did I ever.  If you share in my Martha-ness, get ready to be convicted.

First of all, notice how Jesus says her name twice.  Unfortunately, Scripture doesn’t really give us tone and voice inflection, but I’ve argued enough with my husband to imagine how this might’ve played out.  I’ll yell out my list of frustrations, and then get more frustrated as Mike tries to reason with me.  “Beck.  BECK!” he’ll say.  “Listen to me!”

Then Jesus says, “You are careful and troubled about many things.”  The word used for “careful” here is interesting.  It means anxious, troubled with cares.  It also means “seeking to promote one’s interest.”  Ouch.  So when I’m busily running around like the mad hatter, it means I care less about my guests and more about how they perceive me and my party throwing skills?  Yikes.

Jesus saw beneath the surface, all the way into Martha’s heart.  She cared more about impressing the people in her home than the people themselves.  Instead of taking time to love and enjoy her guests, she was running around like mad, trying to make sure everything was perfect.  Jesus doesn’t want perfect.  He wants us.  Mary got it right that time.

I cringe as God brings images to my mind.  Me and the kids at the park on a gorgeous day.  “Come play with us, Mommy!  Come swing us!”  “I know,” I yell, as I finish an e-mail.  “Just one more minute!”  I start to put the phone down, and hear the familiar “beep-beeeep,” that signals an e-mail.  “One more second, my love-bugs!”  How sad.  Work will be there.  My children won’t always be so eager for mommy to play with them.

We are careful and troubled about many things.  Martha doesn’t have the corner of the market on that.  And we do need to keep on top of things.  But not to the point where our true priorities suffer.  When you’re sitting down to dinner with your family, turn the darn phones off.  Have a phone/computer curfew at a certain time, and after that, any other work or friend correspondence can wait until morning.  Make time with God non-negotiable.  He is more important that any meeting or committee in your life, and He will bless your obedience.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Mary’s example.  Help us to be more like her, sitting quietly at the feet of Jesus, listening, and loving Him.  Help us to shut out the noise and re-center ourselves on You.  Surround us with Your Holy Spirit, Lord.  Fill us to overflowing, so that everything that is not of You is pushed out.  Give us peace, and a sense of calm.  When we start to take our eyes off You, beckon us back.  Bring us to a place where we rely on You for everything, no matter how big or small it is.  We love You so much, Lord, and we pray these things in the beautiful name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.  Amen.