Martha Martha | Episode 8

It’s exhausting to have people over.  There is so much work to be done.  It’s like once you get started the list just grows and grows.  Kind of like “if you give a mouse a cookie, he’s going to ask for a glass a milk” and so forth and so on.  Things like clean the baseboards all of a sudden seem very important to your guests’ comfort and enjoyment while in your home.  And I am likely to get really irritated if someone comes through and disturbs the cleanliness of the room.  How dare they leave their shoes in the den?!?! I imagine this is how Martha felt when Jesus and his disciples were coming in. 

Jesus knew this family well.  They are mentioned three different times in the gospels.  She is busy making sure everything is just so and her sister should be helping her.  But where is she?  Sitting at the feet of Jesus.  Now, you and I know that is where we all should be.  However, Martha is sure that Jesus is going to back her up and tell Mary to get to work.  He does not.  “Martha, Martha, you are worried about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)
 

Martha was distracted, “worried about many things”.  Distracted here means pulled away from.  She was being pulled away from what was the main thing. Jesus was in her house.  He wanted to fellowship with her.  He wanted her to also be sitting at his feet.  Her service and her duties were distracting her from the one she was serving.  

What is distracting you from sitting at the feet of Jesus?

“Don’t be too easily convinced that God really wants you to do all sorts of work you needn’t do.” – C.S. Lewis