I have always believed myself to be like Martha in the New Testament. Careful (worried), troubled, cumbered about by many things; busy trying to meet the needs of others in order to make them happy and often running faster than I have strength in the process. When I do this, I not only drain myself physically and emotionally, but I miss out on the good part; the daily spiritual nourishment that the Lord is waiting to give to me.
I have always struggled with this lesson in church...everyone raving about Mary choosing "the good part." I thought , " I want to be like Mary, but I am like Martha. Why doesn't Martha get the praise for her service." It saddened me that the world only remembers that one moment when Martha was corrected by Christ. It's as if that one moment defined who she was as a person; forever making her an example of what not to do.
I couldn't believe that was all there was to her story. I knew there must be more. I decided to search the scriptures and pray to be able to see Martha through the eyes of Christ.
Luke 10:38-41--Her gentle correction by Jesus.
"Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
"But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
"But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
John 11:1-47-- Her courage, faith, and testimony of the divinity of Christ developed through trial.
I learned that Jesus loved Martha. (See vs. 5)
Her brother Lazarus died and Martha went out to meet Jesus as soon as she heard he was coming. But Mary sat still in the house.As I read this, I realized that Martha was not defined by that one moment of gentle correction. She is so much more! I am so much more!
Martha said unto Jesus, "Lord if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died."
"But I know, that even now whatsoever thou wilt ask of God, God will give it thee."
Jesus said unto her, "Thy brother shall rise again."
Martha saith unto Him, "I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day."
Jesus said unto her, "I am the ressurection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?"
She said unto Him, "Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ the Son of God, which should come into the world.
And when she had so said, she went her away, and called Mary her sister secretly saying, "The Master is come, and calleth for thee."
As soon as she heard that, she arose quickly, and came unto Him.
Now Jesus was not yet come into the town, but was in that place where Martha met him.
The Jews then which were with her in the house, and comforted her, when they saw Mary, that she rose up hastily and went out, followed her, saying, She goeth unto the grave to weep there.
Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died.
When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see.
Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him!
And some of them said, "Could not this man, which opened the eyes of the blind, have caused that even this man should not have died?"
Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Jesus said, "Take ye away the stone. Martha, the sister of him that was dead, saith unto him, Lord, by this time he stinketh: for he hath been dead four days."
Jesus saith unto her, "Said I not unto thee, that, if thou wouldest believe, thou shouldest see the glory of God?"
Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, "Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me.
"And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me."
And when he thus had spoken, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come forth."
And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.
Then many of the Jews which came to Mary, and had seen the things which Jesus did, believed on him.
Yes, like Martha I am a worrier and occasionally I choose busyness over the good part. I also love the Lord and receive Him into my home and I run out to meet Him when life seems too overwhelming and sorrowful. I believe in Him...I trust in Him. I am daily striving to change my focus from careful and troubled to seeking "the good part."
An amazing friend of mine, who has been there for me during some challenging times said, "One experience does not a mortal make. A culmination of choices, trials, afflictions, and consequences does a masterpiece make."
