“…Mary has chosen what is better…” Luke 10:42b NIV
When you read Luke 10:38-42, you can’t help but feel some compassion for Martha. Martha is preparing for a special guest, and Mary doesn’t seem to be helping. After years in church ministry, I can understand Martha’s frustration. For most missionaries, pastors, and ministry leaders, Sundays are for being Martha so others can be Marys at Jesus’ feet. I mourned the loss of my Sundays as a Martha for a time.
It is said that 20% of people do 80% of the work at church. I really felt this on Sundays as I laid the table cloths down, set up the baskets for the visitor cards, and tried to make Sunday a worshipful experience for others. If I didn’t do the work, someone else, even busier than me, would have to take up that additional duty. Sometimes I resented this reality, but I didn’t realize God was training me to go into missions and ministry during this time of my life. When I first began attending church, God taught me to be Mary, sitting at Jesus’ feet. As He equipped me to serve, I started to get more involved and become Martha. Now, I understand why some are Marys and some are Marthas and how to be both at different times during the week.
“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)
Guilt or anger cannot compel volunteerism. The intent to serve the Lord “…with all your heart” must be what drives a person to give up their time (Col. 3:23). When Martha asked Jesus if He cared that Mary wasn’t, Jesus gently rebuked her question:
“’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)
Martha may not have understood Jesus’ limited time in person on earth. Mary’s time at his feet was not wasted. Martha’s good works were appreciated, as well. Mary and Martha are examples for us in ministry, too. In between the rush of projects, the deadlines, and serving in person and online is the reminder from Jesus to sit at his feet. But we’re not to make either being still or our ministry work an idol.
I shifted my mindset over time to embrace the calling of working on Sunday and learning how worship is every day, not just for Sundays. I remember reading about a missionary who was so busy he got up as early as 4 a.m. to study the Bible so as not to neglect his relationship with the Lord. I need to trust that what He allows me to experience only helps me grow stronger as a Christian and He will give me His strength to accomplish what He asks and stay close to Him in the process.
I find Mary moments on my day off, which are Mondays. I sit at Jesus’ feet, consume His teachings, experience His presence, and go to the woods to find solitude and peace.
I now value both Sundays to serve Him and every other day of the week. I see how we can be still at different times throughout the week and be useful, too. There are times to sit at His feet and bring real hope to the world through sharing the Gospel.
Maybe you are in a frustrated Martha moment, burning out, disappointed by a lack of volunteers, and having too much to do. Perhaps you think it all depends on you, but, in the wise words of a former pastor, if you don’t let some things go, no one else will fill the void.
Don’t neglect your walk with the Lord, for it is through His strength you can do all that He has asked you to do for Him. It is in His timing that the work He wants done will be accomplished. All else will fail and fall away. He will bring the right people to make tasks happen if he wants programs to succeed.
Have faith! You are not doing His work alone.