I was scrolling through social media the other day, as I do more often than I should, and I saw the question posed: “Which Bible character do you relate to most?” And although I can relate to many of them, especially those who messed up, I immediately thought of Martha and the time she was so distracted by the many tasks that she almost missed out on what really matters.
When Jesus comes to visit.
Martha and Mary were sisters of Lazarus, and they were all close friends of Jesus. On one occasion when Jesus visited, we get a glimpse of Martha’s type-A personality. While her sister Mary dropped everything to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen, Martha hustled about, distracted by all the stuff that needed to be done. Here is how I picture the scene:
Jesus sat in the center of the room, and Mary sat at His feet tuning out everything around her and soaking in every word He said. But her sister, Martha, was busy. She was making sure everyone had a place to sit and getting them something to drink. She was checking on the food being served and setting the table. She was making sure the dog was behaving and that there was a clean towel in the bathroom. Okay. This may have morphed into a scene at my home, but regardless, Martha was irritated. She was running around like a chicken with her head cut off while Mary just sat there listening to Jesus.
When Martha went to Jesus to complain about her sister, His response probably surprised her and likely convicted her: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but [only] one thing is necessary, Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Frantic activity drowns out God’s voice.
The Greek word translated as “anxious” means to be pulled in different directions, and it perfectly describes Martha’s frantic activity when Jesus came to visit. It also perfectly describes my brain’s frantic activity when I attempt to spend time with Jesus. As soon as I sit down and pick up my Bible, the distractions start. My to-do lists. My schedule. My writing. My social media. Immediately I feel myself being pulled in different directions, and the focus is off Jesus and on a bunch of other non-urgent stuff with no eternal value.
When Jesus told Martha that Mary made the right choice, I’m sure Martha thought, “Are you kidding me?! Look around! There is so much that needs to be done.” And although that may have been true, none of it mattered more than time spent with Jesus. Mary had chosen to drop everything, sit at His feet, and listen. All the other “important” stuff could wait.
Set aside the stuff to spend time with Jesus.
When we sit down and open our Bibles, we are literally setting aside time to hear God speak. The enemy knows that, and he does not want us to fill our hearts and minds with the Word of God, so he bombards us with stuff. Not necessarily bad stuff, that would be too obvious, but “necessary” stuff. Stuff that gets in the way of what really matters.
I wonder what happened after Jesus gently admonished Martha. I bet she took her apron off and sat down next to her sister. And after Jesus finished speaking, I bet they both got up and finished the work together.
Lord, I am personally convicted by the story of Martha and Mary. Far too often I allow the worries and cares of my life to get in the way of time spent at Your feet just listening. Forgive me. Help me set aside all the distractions while spending precious time with you. In Jesus’ name, amen.
