It’s Better this Way

Jesus Visits Martha and Mary (From Luke 10)

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴² there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

A lot of times in life we get distracted by what we think is important.  A lot of us are lost and frankly are insane because we don’t know what is important. We are so busy seeking approval and trying to gain favor from people that we can’t even see what is real when it is right in front of our faces.

As you can see in the story above from Luke, Martha invited Jesus to her house.  Always going where he is welcomed, Jesus went to the house and presumably was there sharing lessons of wisdom and love with the other guests.  I can just imagine Martha running around tending to the guests and feeling good about herself because this famous teacher is in her house.  She probably was imagining what the other guests were thinking about her. They must think she must be someone special to have the Lord at her house.  I bet they won’t look at her the same way after this party.  She was extra awesome by association.  And look at all the work she’s doing.  She probably was thinking, “I know Jesus is impressed by me.  I’m holding this awesome party for myself (ahem), I mean for him.  I do so much and know one notices or helps out. Oh, but now they will notice, because I have the Master at my house.”

Then like all people who need approval, she compared herself to someone else–her own sister–to seal the deal.  “Hey Jesus look a me.  I’m awesome because my sister isn’t.  See, she is just sitting around doing nothing while I am doing all of the work.  See everybody, my sister is lazy and I do everything.  I threw this party and she didn’t even help.  Look at me everybody.  Tell me I did a good job.  Approve of me so I can know my worth.  Look down on my sister so that I look even better. Jesus, will you please cosign my BS?  When they hear you set my sister straight, they will see that I have the ultimate approval.”

But Jesus, who really knows what’s up, sets her straight.  “Martha you think your sister isn’t doing anything and that you are doing everything, but the fact is that your sister is doing the only thing that is important, listening for the Truth to be revealed to her.  What you’re doing is ultimately meaningless.”

Martha just got it handed to her in front of everybody.  She tried to exalt herself and she came crashing down.  That’s how it goes when we try to live a lie in the face of Truth.

I know that I have pulled a Martha more than a few times.  Have you?  Have you been distracted with trying to get people’s approval.  Have you done all of this work to make yourself look important knowing that you are really insecure and don’t know your own worth?  Well, if so, I am here to tell you about the better part–the part that reveals to you the Truth of who you really are.  Christ knows you and invites you to see yourself as God sees you.  Keep checking out this “sight” to consider the possibilities.

1 John 3:2