There’s a lot happening in a powerful little story that Luke includes in his Gospel. Jesus is travelling with his disciples, and they are invited into the home of Martha and her sister Mary in Bethany (a village not far from Jerusalem).
Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV)
Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Martha is incredibly welcoming of Jesus. Hospitality was an important aspect of their culture, and we find Martha busy serving food to her many guests. The interesting thing is that the word “serving” here is not only used in the New Testament to describe the serving of food – but it is also used the main word used to describe ministry. For instance, “serving” is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit (Rom 12:7), and in fact all the gifts are described as acts of “service” (1 Cor 12:4-11). People that God calls are “to equip his people for acts of service” (Eph 4:11-12). Jesus Himself says that He did not come to be “served,” but to “serve” (Matt 20:28; Mark 10:45).
The “serving” that Martha was doing was therefore a very good thing. Serving in itself is not the problem. Martha’s issue was that she was over-occupied with serving. She was just too busy and it drew her away from Jesus. That’s what the word “distracted” means in verse 40. Jesus even describes her as anxious and troubled in her mind. Why was this? Is there a deeper issue here?
At that time, hospitality came with certain assumed social responsibilities. A good host will always ensure guests are well looked after (eg. Luke 7:44-45). In providing hospitality, the guest ought to be of primary importance. Rather than focusing on her guests, Martha’s words show that these responsibilities have ballooned into much more than what they should have been. Her words to Jesus are actually focused on herself. It seems that what she wants to accomplish has taken centre stage. And even though Martha calls Jesus “Lord,” she is, in fact, seeking to use His authority to bring about her own priorities.
How often have we done something similar? How often have we allowed “ministry” (or other) responsibilities to frame our thinking and priorities? How often have we selfishly prayed that God would do something WE want to see happen? (Ouch!)
Just like Martha, today’s culture prioritizes “me.” Whatever I want is most important – be it money, sex, identity, or lifestyle. We constantly see these priorities all around us, and without realizing it, they can easily become our “default setting.” Before long, we begin to prioritise our own agenda and can even try to pray it into being.
Jesus’ gentle rebuke seeks to reframe Martha’s thinking and bring a needed correction to her priorities. And today, Jesus wants to bring this to our attention too. Unlike those in society around us, the Christian life is not about focusing our expectations and priorities. It’s about listening to the voice of Jesus and following Him in the journey of a disciple. This is the choice Mary made (which we’ll look at in the next post).
This does not mean we neglect our responsibilities or turn our back on what needs to be done. But it does challenge our priorities and our assumptions about what is really necessary or needed.
What comes to your mind as you are reading this? If any adjustments are needed, why not take time to talk with God about them right now – then follow through and make the necessary change.
