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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 10:41-42
"Part of Martha’s problem was that she worried too much about what others were doing. In asking Jesus to enter into her complaint, she assumed that her evaluation of Mary’s choice of priorities was right. Jesus’ refusal to endorse Martha shows that although she was doing valuable work, she should worry less about Mary’s choices. We often spend too much time evaluating the walk of others and too little time being self-critical about our own actions for Jesus. Think of how more effective the church would be if we gave half the energy to assessing our own walk than we often do to assessing the walk of others. A community suffocates when all its energy is spent being an assessment agency for one another. What is really crucial for an effective community is for each member to take individual responsibility for his or her own walk and to allow the community to minister in a positive and encouraging way to each other. That does not mean ignoring sin in the midst of the community, but it does mean being slow to make assessments in areas that have nothing to do with sin. Martha crossed this line. The Lord refused to hear her complaint. Mary needed to be honored for her choice." [1]
This short little narrative is an especially stinging rebuke for a lot of pastors and people that spend a lot of time "serving" in church, myself included. There was nothing wrong with Martha's service - it was a good thing. It's important to note that the rebuke was not about her service, but about her judgement of Mary. BUT.....there is more there as well. Martha's service was not BAD, but Mary chose "what is better" (NIV). It so tempting to get caught up in DOING things for Jesus (yesterday's post!) and forget to slow down and KNOW AND BE KNOWN by Him. Mary worshiped instead of working. I think there are many of us who might get upset if that happened in church....a lot of things to do, and there sits ____________, doing nothing! But Mary chose the better thing. God does not need our service. God does, however, demand our worship. It's a tough balance, but I think it's much easier for a lot of us (*not all*) to err on the side of "being productive" and "getting something done". We need to learn instead the discipline of silent adoration and worship, of exulting in knowing and worshiping God with our heart, soul, and mind, not only with our strength.
I don't know about you, but that passage just gave me A LOT to reflect on today about my own heart...
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 10:41-42
"Part of Martha’s problem was that she worried too much about what others were doing. In asking Jesus to enter into her complaint, she assumed that her evaluation of Mary’s choice of priorities was right. Jesus’ refusal to endorse Martha shows that although she was doing valuable work, she should worry less about Mary’s choices. We often spend too much time evaluating the walk of others and too little time being self-critical about our own actions for Jesus. Think of how more effective the church would be if we gave half the energy to assessing our own walk than we often do to assessing the walk of others. A community suffocates when all its energy is spent being an assessment agency for one another. What is really crucial for an effective community is for each member to take individual responsibility for his or her own walk and to allow the community to minister in a positive and encouraging way to each other. That does not mean ignoring sin in the midst of the community, but it does mean being slow to make assessments in areas that have nothing to do with sin. Martha crossed this line. The Lord refused to hear her complaint. Mary needed to be honored for her choice." [1]
This short little narrative is an especially stinging rebuke for a lot of pastors and people that spend a lot of time "serving" in church, myself included. There was nothing wrong with Martha's service - it was a good thing. It's important to note that the rebuke was not about her service, but about her judgement of Mary. BUT.....there is more there as well. Martha's service was not BAD, but Mary chose "what is better" (NIV). It so tempting to get caught up in DOING things for Jesus (yesterday's post!) and forget to slow down and KNOW AND BE KNOWN by Him. Mary worshiped instead of working. I think there are many of us who might get upset if that happened in church....a lot of things to do, and there sits ____________, doing nothing! But Mary chose the better thing. God does not need our service. God does, however, demand our worship. It's a tough balance, but I think it's much easier for a lot of us (*not all*) to err on the side of "being productive" and "getting something done". We need to learn instead the discipline of silent adoration and worship, of exulting in knowing and worshiping God with our heart, soul, and mind, not only with our strength.
I don't know about you, but that passage just gave me A LOT to reflect on today about my own heart...
[1] Darrell L. Bock, The NIV Application Commentary: Luke (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 306.
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