What we learn from Martha

You may not have been fortunate enough to have a grandmother named Martha, like I did, but if you’ve spent enough time in church you’ve heard of Martha, the sister of Mary and Lazarus. They were friends and followers of Jesus who generously offered hospitality in his travels. During a particular visit recorded in Luke 10:38-42, Jesus was teaching a number of people in their home and Martha was apparently busy with preparations of some kind, possibly waiting on everyone, while her sister, Mary, sat at the feet of Jesus listening to him teach. Martha being slightly disgruntled at having to do all the work, interrupts Jesus to complain, and actually tells him to have Mary help her.

There’s a lot here, but first I have to chuckle at Martha tattling to Jesus. He is God in the flesh, teaching eternal truths to people who came to hear, yet her relationship with him is intimate enough that she doesn’t think twice about going to him with her concerns and what she feels is a reasonable solution. This sounds all too familiar to me personally; fretting over something that seems pretty straightforward and sensible, although, no matter how well I reason it, that doesn’t mean I’m seeing the situation the way God does. In the text, Martha was too much in her own head, yet despite this and her poor timing, Jesus doesn’t snap or scold her, but instead offers a different perspective on the situation. Perhaps she had gone a little Martha Stewart on them all, making sure everything was picture perfect and delectable, and he basically tells her she’s worried about the wrong things, or maybe she’s just exhausted from running drinks and snacks to a mass of people who were there to hear Jesus, and didn’t even expect refreshment. No matter the reason, Jesus speaks with compassion and reminds her of what’s important.

We could judge Martha and claim that if Jesus was physically in our presence, we would definitely sit at his feet and listen, but let’s expand this story a little, beyond the parameters of this moment and let’s consider life and all of its distractions: the kids and their activities, work, the house, family, friends, etc. When we consider how we might balance it all, are we more concerned with keeping up our image for the world or serving God? What Martha was investing herself into wasn’t necessarily wrong, but she was missing out on something that had greater value. Even in noble service we can forget the one we serve and I think this is where Martha was, ensnared in serving like it was a cocktail party and Jesus patiently reminded her that she was missing the point.

When we look at our to do list for the day, where is God on the list? Do we designate any time to sit at the feet of Jesus to see what he has to say, or is our list longer than our day and filled with things that could be erased if we would just stop people pleasing and seek God first, in our day and in our life? It’s worth pondering.

“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.” Luke 10: 41-42 NIV