Where Is Our Heart In Serving?

There is one Biblical woman in particular that I relate very well with, Martha. Martha has always gotten a bad rap because she is seen as being too busy to sit at Jesus’s feet and rest in His presence, soaking up every detail about Him. But the more I study her and the scriptures she is in; I can’t help but see that she loved Jesus just as much as any other of His followers. Not only did she love Him, she wholeheartedly believed in Him.

In Luke 10:38-41, Jesus comes to Mary and Martha’s home. This was a surprise visit and it wasn’t just Him, Jesus brought with Him His twelve disciples. Could you imagine? There are at least thirteen hungry and tired men coming to your home and one of those men is the Coming Messiah. While I would want to spend time with Him, I would be honored just to have Him in my house and I would want to make Him as comfortable as I possibly could. Martha wanted the men to be fed, have a place to rest, and feel like they could relax in her house.

As the scripture says the house belonged to Martha, she was the housekeeper, the one who took care to the ins and outs of the house. She was more than likely a widow and took great pride in knowing that she had a home Jesus could come take respite in. Throughout Jesus’s ministry, He did not have a home He could call His own. He travelled from city to city talking to people, healing the sick, showing His love to everyone He encountered. He chose that over having a home base He could go to for relaxation. Martha relished in the service she provided for Him and His followers. As I read this I begin to think, “How can spend our time and our finances better than in our service to Jesus Christ?” He is deserving of it all!

Not only did Martha and her family love Jesus, He loved them as well. This is obviously not the first encounter He has had with this dear family. The word on the street about Jesus had gotten quite scary. It was a risk to entertain Him and have Him in their home and yet Mary did not care about that. While others were keeping their distance from Him, Mary opened Him into her home with open arms. She knew what was important but she let her feelings get in the way.

Have you ever felt like you do all the work around your house? I enjoy having a clean house, preparing a delicious meal, entertaining friends and family that I love, having a beautiful yard to admire, and reaping the blessing when it is all done and I look back at the work I accomplished. But there are definitely times that I do not have the best attitude and feel used, neglected, or resentful because I think in my own head that I am doing all the work. In no way is this the truth, but my selfish ways make me feel this way. I choose to do all this work and make it a priority in my life. That does not mean that it is the largest priority that needs to get accomplished that day.

So, we see that Martha had good intentions, but where she got off course was when she says in Luke 10:40, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Let’s take a look at Martha’s sister, Mary. Jesus was sitting in Martha’s house speaking to all those who sat around Him. Mary was one who was sitting at Jesus’s feet soaking in His every word. Jesus was giving a sermon in a house. We know that some of the best sermons are not necessarily in a church building. They can be in a stadium, park, on the lake, or even in a house. Mary did not want to miss a word of Jesus’s sermon. This makes me think of the book The Five Love Languages. Mary chose quality time while Martha chose acts of service. They both were showing love to Jesus but in different ways.

Jesus responds to Martha by saying this, “‘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.’” What are we doing with good intentions but have turned it into something that we resent? Is that something we need to completely wipe clean from our lives and sit at the feet of Jesus, or do we need to simply change our attitude about it and live with a grateful heart for the serving opportunity we have?

Service is a great attribute to have and Jesus live a life of service while He was on earth. He died serving His Father and you and me. Service is not a bad thing; it becomes a large weight on our back when we allow it to pull us aways from the Lord. When we are too busy to hear the Holy Spirit, read God’s Word, take time to praise our Savior, or give some time to Jesus to sit at His feet, we have our priorities out of line. He is needed most of all.

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him.” Luke 12:35-36

“There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.” 1 Corinthians 12:5

“For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.” 1 Corinthians 3:9

Digging Deeper:

Do you see yourself as a Mary, Martha, or both?

How is God calling you to serve and spend time with Him at the same time?

Where can you give some time to Jesus daily to sit at His feet in the middle of your serving?