Martha, Martha..You Are Anxious
I'm a Martha, there I said it. My grandmother on my dad's side was named Martha, so it's possible I come by it honestly. Disclaimer: No Marthas were intentional hurt during this blog writing. This means no disrespect or assumptions upon any of those friends named Martha.
This morning I had all the free time in the world, literally...okay well not literally. I had several hours of downtime and the freedom to do what I wanted. An introvert's dream! Sure there is always laundry, cleaning, studying Japanese, etc. but none of those things were pressing. But yet, in a way I enjoy those things. I enjoy a task completed, making lists to complete those tasks, organization and administration, the list goes on and on. I revel in planning.
I'm also quite bossy. I'm confessing a lot of things here today, so dear family and friends please be nice. My family knows I'm bossy, so does my husband. The 3rd girl (middle child) with organizational and administration passions...sometimes I just couldn't help myself. Things needed to be done, I had a plan and people were NOT moving. Some of those reading this will totally understand and others will say, ohhhh she is THAT person. A blessing and often a hindrance, I have always been bossy. My poor little brother was defenseless when it came to his big sister and her plans. Home videos truly show that I had a plan and everyone (by everyone I mean my little brother) was going to follow my lead to a tee. Sorry Tim! As I've grown older, I've come to realize that if I'm not careful that drive and bossiness can run over people, their feelings, and portray a witness that is not of Christ. Can I get an Amen?
So here I sat with a choice. Grab a cup of coffee and do some serious time with Father in His word... OR make a meal plan, a to-do list, review our budget, make sure the calendar is up to date, plan out my time for this week...Make a grocery list. I could go on and on and on. I also hadn't read my Bible for a substantial amount of time ALL week. I said it. A missionary who doesn't spend daily time in the WORD. Gasp. Yup, that is me. And missionary and also a sinful yet forgiving child of God...same as you. If we are all really honest, especially those of us who are undisciplined, there are days and times that abiding with our Father just doesn't happen. Maybe it is busyness, maybe priorities, maybe lack of discipline. In a very human way, the to-dos and lists and organization brought me more joy and sense of accomplishment than putting them to the side and spending time with Jesus.
So the more I planned...the more I was convicted. An hour or so went by before I finally laid aside MY stuff and did what I knew I had needed to do all morning. Just so happened my Scripture passage was Luke 10, about Martha and Mary.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 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.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
And then I discovered...I'm Martha! I almost laughed out loud when I read the part were she TELLS Jesus to tell Mary to help her! Hah! Talk about Ms BossyPants! She was so focused on her tasks and serving that she was frustrated with Mary and even with Jesus.
I thought about this passage and thought about my daily life. Wow, isn't this what I do?! All of my "serving" all of my things to do. Sitting here trying to boss Jesus around by telling Him what to do. Ouch! And look what he says in the end, "Mary has chosen the good portion, which WILL NOT be taken away from her." All my tasks and to-dos at the end of the day fade away and if I completed them, I'll check them off and simply add another task tomorrow. But time with the Lord, sweet time with Jesus doesn't go away, it cannot be taken from us. It is stored in our minds and hearts. It gives more joy than any fleshly, human accomplishment.
Martha wasn't a bad person and yes there were things that had to be done, but the ohhh to be just a bit like Mary. Help me Father to have the heart and focus of Mary and maybe just maybe not be quite so bossy....except when I have to be.
Beautiful Feet - Whitney aka Martha
This morning I had all the free time in the world, literally...okay well not literally. I had several hours of downtime and the freedom to do what I wanted. An introvert's dream! Sure there is always laundry, cleaning, studying Japanese, etc. but none of those things were pressing. But yet, in a way I enjoy those things. I enjoy a task completed, making lists to complete those tasks, organization and administration, the list goes on and on. I revel in planning.
I'm also quite bossy. I'm confessing a lot of things here today, so dear family and friends please be nice. My family knows I'm bossy, so does my husband. The 3rd girl (middle child) with organizational and administration passions...sometimes I just couldn't help myself. Things needed to be done, I had a plan and people were NOT moving. Some of those reading this will totally understand and others will say, ohhhh she is THAT person. A blessing and often a hindrance, I have always been bossy. My poor little brother was defenseless when it came to his big sister and her plans. Home videos truly show that I had a plan and everyone (by everyone I mean my little brother) was going to follow my lead to a tee. Sorry Tim! As I've grown older, I've come to realize that if I'm not careful that drive and bossiness can run over people, their feelings, and portray a witness that is not of Christ. Can I get an Amen?
So here I sat with a choice. Grab a cup of coffee and do some serious time with Father in His word... OR make a meal plan, a to-do list, review our budget, make sure the calendar is up to date, plan out my time for this week...Make a grocery list. I could go on and on and on. I also hadn't read my Bible for a substantial amount of time ALL week. I said it. A missionary who doesn't spend daily time in the WORD. Gasp. Yup, that is me. And missionary and also a sinful yet forgiving child of God...same as you. If we are all really honest, especially those of us who are undisciplined, there are days and times that abiding with our Father just doesn't happen. Maybe it is busyness, maybe priorities, maybe lack of discipline. In a very human way, the to-dos and lists and organization brought me more joy and sense of accomplishment than putting them to the side and spending time with Jesus.
So the more I planned...the more I was convicted. An hour or so went by before I finally laid aside MY stuff and did what I knew I had needed to do all morning. Just so happened my Scripture passage was Luke 10, about Martha and Mary.
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 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.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
And then I discovered...I'm Martha! I almost laughed out loud when I read the part were she TELLS Jesus to tell Mary to help her! Hah! Talk about Ms BossyPants! She was so focused on her tasks and serving that she was frustrated with Mary and even with Jesus.
I thought about this passage and thought about my daily life. Wow, isn't this what I do?! All of my "serving" all of my things to do. Sitting here trying to boss Jesus around by telling Him what to do. Ouch! And look what he says in the end, "Mary has chosen the good portion, which WILL NOT be taken away from her." All my tasks and to-dos at the end of the day fade away and if I completed them, I'll check them off and simply add another task tomorrow. But time with the Lord, sweet time with Jesus doesn't go away, it cannot be taken from us. It is stored in our minds and hearts. It gives more joy than any fleshly, human accomplishment.
Martha wasn't a bad person and yes there were things that had to be done, but the ohhh to be just a bit like Mary. Help me Father to have the heart and focus of Mary and maybe just maybe not be quite so bossy....except when I have to be.
Beautiful Feet - Whitney aka Martha
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