MARY AND MARTHA: A LESSON LEARNED
Mary and Martha: A Lesson Learned
I love the story of Mary and Martha. It’s an important lesson about what can occur when we lose our focus and allow busyness and comparison to steal our joy.
Have you had those days where your “to-do” list is piling up, and you are running out of time? Everything is happening at once. Perhaps you overcommitted, or you did not plan well. Whatever the case, it’s catching up, and you are running around in a frenzy trying to make it all happen. I’ve had one of those months.
I feel like Martha scurrying around my home, attempting to write my blog posts, engage in my online community, tidy up our home, run errands, and prepare for upcoming events while taking care of my family! It’s not so easy. There are days I become so frazzled, I tense up and allow the joy to slowly evaporate from my soul.
Martha Moments
Can you relate? I call it my “Martha moment” when I’ve become distracted by busyness and performance. This type of behavior almost always leads to comparison. Why aren’t they doing more, or how do they have time to go to the spa or spend the day at the beach? I get wrapped up in thinking dreadful thoughts like, “Why do I have to do everything?” Just like Martha, I begin to compare and complain. And, once you’ve stepped into the trap of comparison, you notice everything! But your eyes can deceive you because what you see isn’t necessarily the truth. Take the media, for example. On social media, what you see is typically an onstage performance of someone’s life. It’s rarely ever a “behind the scenes” look, the unedited version of life.
Let’s be honest for a moment. Filters do a lot for us, and when we begin to compare our unfiltered life with the filtered life of others, that is opening the door for Satan and yelling, “Come on in and steal my joy!”
“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 NLT
The question is whether we will allow our circumstances to rob us of our joy and contentment.
More Like Mary
Remember the story, “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’” Luke 10:40 NIV. Reading these words stops me in my tracks as I reflect on my circumstances. I’ve allowed my circumstances to steal my joy because I took my eyes off what is important. Trust me; it’s not what I think is important – the to-do lists, the laundry, the housekeeping. Yes, these tasks are important, but they are not the most significant things in my life. My relationships and the quality time spent in prayer and fellowship are the priorities.
Jesus responded, “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 NIV
In my moment of silence, I pause to realize I need to become more like Mary. To enjoy the moment and be thankful for the mess. Life is not perfect, nor am I. When I heed this advice and let go, God steps in to lead the way. So, I ask you, in what area of your life do you need to let go? What area of your life gets ignored when you get too busy?
Let’s not neglect the important things in life – our relationships, our families, and our faith. I’m challenging myself to more Mary moments than Martha moments. I hope you’ll join me.
“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT
