Martha's dialogue and anxiety in this verse reminds me a lot of myself. As I am reading this more and more I get a really big sense of why worrying is such a huge sin to battle.
Throughout this verse Martha's worrying is ALL revolved around herself. She's pretty much just being really selfish this whole time. Worrying about the 'big dinner SHE was preparing'. Upset that her sister sat there while SHE did all the work. That Jesus being preoccupied with her sister is UNFAIR.
Martha seems to be crying out, "ME! ME! ME!" "Pick ME Jesus!" "Look at ME Jesus!" "Aren't you proud of ME? And MY big dinner and cleaning and serving Jesus?!"
We have all heard of this story and how Martha missed the whole point of Jesus being in her home. She was too busy, too caught up, too distracted. But in my opinion all of that busyness and distraction and WORRY she was dealing with came from a selfish nature. Just as all sin does. Just as we all deal with.
Now that I think on it, this story shouldn't be that big of a surprise to us. This is how we treat God on the daily!
Maybe you don't, but I sure do struggle with worry and anxiety. Sometimes it's minor and may cause me to shake my foot or leg in anticipation of small details. Sometimes it over takes me and I feel convinced that defeat and disaster will occur because the heaviness of the issue outweighs every plausible, possible,"everything will be okay" result ; in my head at least.
Not only does this offend God and everything about him, it carries me further away from him. It's a distraction. It's a 'business'. It's a worry. It says , "I don't have time to think about God's sovereignty or Jesus' presence, I have to sort this out, I HAVE to be worried for a little bit.
Just like Martha.
Jesus was IN HER HOUSE! Like come on! Jesus and her sister we having bible study. Chillin. Literally.
Martha was running around like a chicken with her head cut off cooking, cleaning, worrying. Probably angrily, anxiously and furiously. She was doing a duty for Jesus. The scripture actually says that Martha opened her home to Jesus(NIV). She could of experienced his teachings, his heart, even just his presence...But, Martha was worrying.. Just as we walk with Jesus wanting to do all these things for him, we even invite him into our hearts, and what happens? We kind of literally forget about HIM being there. Being in our hearts , being PRESENT in our lives. We become selfish I think. Preoccupied with what WE have to do to. We could experience Jesus for all that he is, 'BUT'_____(fill in blank). This is the point where our attention shifts, it's that same point where selfishness comes in. If you're not focused on Jesus what are you focused on? Anything other than him is selfishness.
It's that simple.
Just as Martha opened the door for Jesus to come into her home, she turned around and went straight to being busy. She didn't take those moments to cherish the Lord! To look and see Jesus of Nazareth is in my home! I want to spend time with him, I want to know him, I want to learn, I want to sit at his feet.
When we invited Jesus into our hearts, he came with a purpose! He didn't want to sit and twiddle his thumbs waiting on us to finish cooking dinner, or finish trying to prefect ourselves, or to even worry about ANYTHING else! He wanted us to notice him just as we did before we invited him into our hearts. We saw his glory and we let him in. Now it's time to really dig into Him. Not let him sleep on the couch.But to let HIM sing us to sleep!
I believe Martha had a good heart. She is probably one of the most honest and realest examples of the people of this generation. I honestly, have so much empathy for her because as much as I want to believe I would be a Mary in this situation, I have to look back at my life and see what I really have done, how I really have treated Jesus since he moved into my heart and my life. Have I taken a seat at his feet and soak him in for all he is and let him have his way? Or did I say "Aight cool, You're here now. I'm gonna go live my life. Peace"?
But I'm praying for that spirit of Mary. To be taken away by Jesus. To cherish him whenever he walks in my door. And though my Martha tendencies may arise I remember what Jesus said to her: *"My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it-- and I wont take it away from her" -Luke 10:41*
God bless! <3
