Day 94: Mary and Martha

4 Apr, 2018

The Daily Word: Wednesday, April 4th, 2018
Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26
Luke 10:38-11:13
Psalm 76:1-12
Proverbs 12:15-17
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” – Lk 10:40

Martha loved to serve; and Mary loved to sit! Martha exercised her gift of hospitality and bent over backwards to serve Jesus as He entered her home; but Mary simply, “…sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word” (v 39). Was Mary right, and Martha wrong? Is it better to sit than to serve?

Service is a good thing. However, I notice two unhealthy things about Martha’s service:

1) She was distracted. Martha was, “…distracted with much serving” (v 40). Her service did not bring her closer to Jesus; it actually distracted her from His presence altogether. Whenever God shows up, we must make room; even if it means dropping everything and putting life on hold.

2) She was bothered because other people weren’t serving the way she was. Martha was so upset that she approached Jesus and asked Him to command Mary to serve. Genuine, heart-felt service does not depend on what other people are doing; it simply depends on what God has given you to do.

Keep serving! But do it with a pure heart. There will be seasons of your life when God calls you to be like Martha, serving Him with active faith; and there will be seasons of your life when God calls you to be like Mary, dropping everything to sit at the feet of Jesus. Enjoy it all, for He has given you His presence on purpose.

Prayer:

Father, help me to serve You with clean hands and a pure heart! I pray my service would always draw me closer to You, and never push me further away. I pray my service would never depend on what others are doing; but only on what You have called me to do! I love You, Lord, and I will serve You with my life!

Archives
See commentary from this day in 2014.
See commentary from this day in 2015.
See commentary from this day in 2016.
See commentary from this day in 2017.

© Michael D. White, 2018. All rights reserved.