Being Mary in a Culture of Marthas
The story of Martha and Mary is one that I'm sure we are all familiar with. It's a great story. Jesus is in the home of Mary and Martha: Mary is sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha is running around like a crazy woman focusing on all the little tasks that just had to get done.
Martha, in her irritation, essentially says to Jesus, "Look, I'm working my tail off to do all this great stuff while my sister Mary is just sitting there! I'm doing all the hard stuff, all the serving, and Mary is just sitting there!"
I'm not going to lie- I relate more to Martha in this story than Mary. I, much like Martha, like to be recognized for all my hard work. I like feeling appreciated.
The difference between Martha and Mary here is a sense of striving over abiding.
Mary is an abider.
Martha is a striver.
Martha even mentioned this to Jesus. Hey Jesus, look at me! Look at what I'm doing! Look how hard I'm working!
The cry of her heart was to be recognized.
Jesus spoke to her, gently in Luke 10:41-42 (CSB). "Martha, Martha. You are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her."
Can you relate? I know I sure can, at times! Worried and upset about many things.
Martha was so concerned about what she could do that she forgot to be.
We live in a culture of Martha, friends. We are stressed and upset and overwhelmed. We see terror and fear every time we turn around.
So... How can we be a Mary instead of a Martha?
How can we place our fears and worries in the hands of the One who created the galaxies when we like to have control?
We trust. We pray. We breathe deep His glorious goodness and grace. And we try to rest.
Over the remainder of this Honest & Unfiltered series, I'm praying that we learn how to rest... And that we learn how to live a lifestyle of continual rest and abiding in Him so we are able to be effortless extensions of Him!
Between the Shadow and the Soul: Blogging through the journey.