Martha is one of the more interesting women we meet in the New Testament, and I think she kind of gets a bum rap a lot of times. Martha, her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus were all friends and followers of Jesus. We find twice in Scripture. The first is in Luke 10 which is probably the most well-known, and the second is in John 11, when Jesus raised her brother Lazarus from the dead.
In Luke, we find Jesus and the disciples were traveling again. The story is written in Luke 10:38-42.
“Now they were traveling along, He entered a village and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha you are worried and bothered by so many thing; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
I’ve read this story and heard numerous lessons and sermons on the Mary/Martha story. There are a lot of things I could talk about, but quite honestly, this story hits home for me at a much more personal level. It’s interesting that God had me get to this particular story when I did because I need Jesus’ words today just as much as Martha needed them all those centuries ago.
See, I get Martha because lately, I’ve definitely been “distracted with all my preparations.” I’ve beeen worried and bothered by so many things, all while missing the one necessary thing that Mary got.
See, I’m not sure how it happened, but this week, it has hit me square between the eyes that I have over committed myself. Like Martha, I meant well. I wanted to help and to do the right thing, but in the process of inviting all these commitments into my life, I found myself getting worried and bothered by so many things that the thing or I should say the Person that was reason for doing any of it in the first place was getting pushed out of His place.
I have taught Sunday school for years now. I love it and I love the women who come to my class. It’s a good thing. I also started to volunteer to teach weekly at a place called Guiding Light. The Wednesday night meeting is called Girl Talk and it includes not just the young pregnant girls that shelter there but also women who come from a low security prison. I love it and I’ve come to care about these women who are fighting for a second chance at life. It’s a different kind of teaching and I love ministering to these women.
In September, I had something every single weekend, except one, and also a great conference I went to the first weekend of October. Again, all good things, but I was starting to feel the pressure and was looking forward to a few weekends without scheduled events.
I am also in the process of ramping up my freelancing career and decided to take a rather intense writing class through the month of October, and then because you know, I didn’t have enough to do, I also decided to do the 31 day blogging challenge about the women in the Bible. Of course, during the past 3 weeks, I’ve had more tech problems than I’ve had in the last year!
And just to top it all off, I’m also on the women’s ministry committee at my church. Again, this is something I enjoy because I am passionate about women knowing God more intimately. So, when we organized new Bible studies for the fall, I agreed to co-teach a class which started Oct. 9 (I actually couldn’t come because I had to sub for a couple of days). To be honest, even though I am enjoying getting to know some new ladies and I’m loving the study on Nehemiah by Kelly Minter, it was one commitment too many.
If I can be really honest, it was my pride that caused me to say yes. It sounds so spiritual to say that you teach 3 Bible studies a week, doesn’t it? It sort of scratched that itch I sometimes get that I am just not doing enough for God and if I just add one more thing He’ll be so pleased with me.
The problem was, like Martha, I was so busy serving and bustling around, I was stressed out and my relationships have started to show some wear and tear. I’m normally pretty compassionate, but I’ve found myself in shorter supply because I’ve been too busy.
I haven’t seen my parents in probably three weeks – because I’m so busy. I have my nose stuck in the computer or in a stack of magazines or in Bible study commentaries and have had to tell my kids to go away – because I’m so busy.
I found my quiet times getting shorter and shorter as I rushed through my studies and told God that I just didn’t have time to pray too long that day – because I’m so busy.
Like Martha, I was looking at Jesus saying “Can’t you get someone to help me over here?” Instead, He was looking at me and like Martha, gently admonishing me,” Rosanne, Rosanne, you are bothered and worried about so many things, but only one thing is necessary and you are missing out by rushing from one thing to another.”
His gentle admonition was accompanied by an invitation, and I’ve decided to accept.
While I have to fulfill my commitments over the next few months, I’ve made a firm decision to say “no” to anything else right now. It’s time to stop being distracted with all my preparations and instead choose the better part.
What is God asking you to say no to today?
Blessings, Rosanne