Focus

There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

On Martha’s “to do List” perhaps the “turkey” was probably all done waiting to be served! Almost everything was completed and now she was getting worked up about what in the world Mary was doing? An outer focus lets us navigate the larger world like Martha.

On the other hand, Mary was all absorbed, listening, learning and meditating on Jesus’ words; demonstrated by her love for Him, she forgot everything else and was fully focused!  Perhaps she had previously meditated on Mark 4:24 “.., “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more”. But, sister Martha, was taken up with the active work in His service, which was good but her focus was on how she might at that moment perfectly minister to Jesus wants. This was good but being done at the wrong time!  Does this resonate with you? 

We all need to be reminded regularly to “stop serving and just sit!”. We are so valuable to God that we need to spend time with Him before being so consumed with ongoing “to do lists”. Another scripture Mary might have meditated on that morning is “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:6. Mary was sitting at Jesus feet, listening and hearing what Jesus had to say.  She was resourceful, responsible and respectful.

How about having “coffee” with the Creator of the universe who knows everything in its entirety, before going into the busyness of the day? Holding on and trusting God is real foundational faith.

Martha was listening in a distracted, resentful way. She was definitely preparing a very delicious meal! It is possible to be busy doing good things for the Lord that make us skip the most essential relationship. Having  “coffee” with the “King” enables us to know His agenda! The work of serving Jesus must always flow from sitting at His feet.  He speaks, acts, delivers and reveals Himself and always provides evidence and expects us to have faith. He leads us by tugging on our spirits and speaking to our hearts. 

Travelling on a winding road with high mountains and low valleys with large deep lakes can be very scary because one mistake made can take us down and cause us to drown!  Our own natural understanding is insufficient, flawed and limited.  Our morals and desires may not be perfectly aligned with God’s, and can be a crutch. Human understanding is so limited, but God’s understanding, however, is completely trustworthy, just like his character, always certain, solid, strong and stable.

The Martha’s syndrome displays a tendency to become overwhelmed by "busyness" and to-do lists to the point of neglecting spiritual food. But regardless of what had happened, Jesus rearranged Martha's priorities in a loving, straightforward way because of His unfailing love.

Pray your response to the Lord personally, meaningfully and genuinely!

Reflect:

True spiritual life requires both the "Mary" and "Martha" aspects: being attentive to God through prayer and stillness, and then allowing that to fuel our actions and service to God