City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” 

Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)

Reflection

“Martha, Martha.”  Now you say it, with emphasis on the first “Martha” and then on the second “Martha” let it trail off a bit.  This is how Max McLean does it.  So, anytime I read this, I hear him saying it that way.  I think the intent here is to give her a rebuke, but also to draw her in, lovingly.  She’s trying so hard, but not quite getting it.  How can you not feel for her?

Every time I read this passage there’s a voice in my head that says, “she’s right. Those pots don’t fill themselves. Those fish don’t clean themselves, and those veggies don’t chop themselves.  Someone must do the work around there.  So doesn’t she deserve a whole lot of appreciation?  But no, she gets a rebuke.”  It seems so unfair.  And for ordinary days, she’s probably right.

However, this is no ordinary day.  This is a day that Jesus has come to visit.  It is a day in which God came near.  So, we must not look on His visitation as if it were ordinary.  To see the day of the Lord’s visitation you need extra-ordinary eyes.  And once you look upon the Lord with such eyes, perhaps then you will be like Mary, sitting at the Master’s feet, unwilling to be moved.  Neither army nor housework would be sufficient to change her posture.

I should also note that Jesus was teaching (v39) and Martha was distracted (v40), so part of the problem here is that Martha cannot wait until the teaching is over.  I know, sometimes teachings go a bit long, but they do end… usually.

Application

Okay, here’s the standard question.  Are you a Mary or are you a Martha?  Are you one who loves to sit at the feet and worship or are you one who’s determined is to get things done?  There is room in the Lord’s house for both kinds.  And both can go wrong.  Perhaps you could say that they both are trying to avoid starvation.  Martha is trying to avoid it in the physical realm and Mary in the spiritual.  But the resolution here is that there is a time and a place for all things.

Perhaps the more subtle point here is that we live in the day of the Lord’s visitation, so everyday we must sit at His feet and hold on to the better portion.  Yes, we still need to work, cook, clean, and do all the things.  But we must never let the time seated at the Lord’s feet fall away, for this is where we learn to make our devotion… unshakable.

Prayer

Father in heaven, life on Earth is full of so many things, so many duties, and so many obligations.  Often it is overwhelming.  Lord, I pray that You draw us back to Your presence, remind us of life in Your kingdom, and feed us as we have need. In all things we look to You for our supply.  In Jesus name, amen.