But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42)
Read: Deuteronomy 26, Deuteronomy 27, Luke 10:38-42, Luke 11:1-13, Psalms 76:1-12, Proverbs 12:15-17
Relate: Life is busy. There is so much to be done. From the moment I wake up to the moment I rest my head on the pillow, I am juggling the details of life. When company comes to town, the list of chores grows. The house needs to sparkle and shine, extra food needs to be purchased, and the meal needs to be timed perfectly. I am a doer. I feel the world is right as I check items off my list of tasks.
As I read the interaction between Martha and Jesus, the words jumped from the page into my heart. I am a Martha. I frequently let the tasks of living and the work of helping a church function take the place of sitting at the feet of Jesus. The great majority of my time in the church is spent working on the details and the application of creating a smooth Sunday morning for those in attendance. I am, like Martha, often frustrated by others’ lack of participation in the processes and details of a worship service.
React- Jesus was not telling Martha that the work does not need to be done, nor was he telling her to never work again. Instead, he was, in a loving reprimand, asking her to keep him the focus. There is only one thing worth being concerned about: Jesus. God does not want our actions, he wants our love. Our actions will stem from our love, not distract us from it.
I feel challenged to put my list down and focus on the reason for living rather than the details of life. The list can wait while I spend some time with the one who gives me purpose, hope, and a future. God is not asking me to do more. He is asking me to be with him and to allow the actions to be an outpouring of my love rather than one more item on the list of things to be done.
Respond:
THE RIVER WALK 
I have no need for a list because Jesus is the list.
Amen ?
Hi Rebecca – one phrase jumped out reading your words of love:
“The list can wait while I spend some time with the one who gives me purpose, hope, and a future.”
Date night!
That trend of “adding love to the list” rather than fight the list in order to find time for love.
(And your Sunday’s sound like work – allowing others to sit at His feet. Our minister “works” with God on Sunday allowing is to sit as His feet – and then sits with Him later 🙂 )
Thanks for the checkpoint BJ! Just when we get focussed on something, we get all involved in a project, the Lord sends us a reminder. It is not about me! It is not about us! It is not about what we are doing! It is not about what is happening all around us! It is about Him! It is about His creationing coming to terms with Him! It is about us coming to Him! One day we will look back. One day we will see what was important. Thank you for reminding us all that this One Thing, this One Person, this One Focus was what was needed. Thank you and thank anyone who takes the time to remind us all!
No prob, but Rebecca wrote this one. 😉
Good job Rebecca, thanks to you too. Well put.
“Our actions will stem from our love, not distract us from it.” Well said!
I, too, am a Martha. I have to remind myself to be intent about the reason for Sunday (and every other day) and not just the details of the day. Thank you for the encouragement.
It’s very easy with the things of life to the point that we forget about Life itself.
Thank you, I really appreciated and needed this read. I am a Martha! Thank you for this reminder. 🙂
Margo
awesome than you!
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