mary-and-martha.com

Today I attended a business women’s breakfast in the city and the topic was Mary & Martha. I had to laugh - last breakfast it was the Proverbs 31 Woman and I have a blog on that topic too. I commented to the organiser and she said perhaps she better check my blogs before she plans the next breakfast!

The breakfast was broken into 4 sections and one of the ladies spoke about time management and referred to Mary and Martha. She suggested that Martha’s comment/question to Jesus about getting Mary to help related to the fact that she struggled with getting things done and wanting to be organised. Seeing Mary doing something that perhaps she’d like to be doing, but couldn’t (because she felt she couldn’t), frustrated her and made her annoyed. The speaker suggested that sometimes we can put importance on things that really aren’t that important, or if they were, they might not be that urgent.

We aren’t told in Luke whether Martha had a schedule she was keeping to, but chances are she could have dropped what she was doing and joined Mary at Jesus’ feet and the two of them could have worked together later to catch up on whatever needed to be done.

How often are we guilty of placing urgency or importance on something just because we want to be orderly and organised? At the breakfast we even laughed at the fact that we like to have our beds made before we go out - is this a female trait or something we have copied from our mothers and older generations? For me personally I feel it’s about keeping the marriage bedroom respected but it’s true, if the bed wasn’t made one day, it isn’t going to wreck my marriage.

Sometimes we tend to blow things completely out of proportion and what we really need to consider is how missing doing something in favour of spending time with the Lord is going to affect our walk with Jesus. KMT

Sometimes when I look at the week ahead I can get overwhelmed at all that needs to get done. My mind works a little like a radio and can jump from station to station. I mentally try to plan out my week to ensure that I have spent enough time fostering relationships with family and friends and that work and ministry responsibilities are all taken care of. However sometimes in all the planning I can find my self worrying. I worry about people or situations that I need to deal with during the coming week. I need to make a conscious effort to hand my concern and worry to God. The week ahead with all it’s highs and lows are safest in the hands of Jesus.

Martha, as the eldest would have felt the responsibility of running a home and taking care of her family. Jesus tries to teach Martha how to cope with her concerns and worry. In Luke 10:41-42 we read the following, “Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.” (NIV)

What is the “one thing” that is needed? It is what Mary chose, to come and sit at the feet of Jesus. We, as busy Christian women need to constantly bring our worry and concern to Jesus. We need to exchange our worry for rest and peace. This sentiment is echoed throughout the Bible, in Matthew 6:33 Jesus teaches his disciples about worry and tells them to seek first the kingdom of God and all His righteousness and everything else will be given to you as well. Here with Mary and Martha we see the practical outworking of that teaching.

Like Martha, we need to be reminded of this truth every once in a while. When we feel burdened or worried about what lies ahead we need to come back to Jesus. We need to bring it all back and offer it to Jesus and exchange it for the peace and rest that only He offers us.

Most women can relate to Martha because generally women are doers. We roll up our sleeves, not afraid of getting our hands dirty and getting a job done. I love Martha and I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I can totally relate to her. This story is a powerful reminder of yes, the importance of sitting at the feet of Jesus and filling up, but also always keeping our eyes focused on Him and not comparing. If the Holy Spirit leads us to sit or to serve, then we shouldn’t fix our eyes on anything else. This was Martha’s problem. She took her eyes off what she was called to do and compared. How many of us when we are busy serving and giving out, we then cast our eyes on what others are not doing? Or what about when we are called to a season of doing less and spending time being ministered or ministering to God, that we look at those who are serving and what we should be doing? Drawing comparisons will always give you the short end of the stick. It will always leave you feeling you’re not good enough or doing enough. It will create bad attitudes rather than good ones. Martha was called to serve Jesus lunch and she chose to focus on Mary. Whatever the Holy Spirit leads you to do, always keep your eyes fixed on Him.

Introducing Sandra who will also be contributing articles to this blog and I look forward to seeing what both Sandra and Chrissi will bring to the blog. Sandra is also another lady from my church and she and I will be working together on various projects at the church. KMT

I’d like to introduce Chrissi who will be a contributing author on this blog. Chrissi posted a comment on the first post of this blog so readers will already know a little bit about her. Chrissi and I attend the same church and this blog topic is one that is close to her heart so it seemed fitting to invite her to contribute. I’m sure you’ll enjoy her posts and our journey together in exploring this topic. KMT