MARTHA

(Mary & Lazarus's Sister)

"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “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.” Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

Many older brothers and sisters have an irritating tendency to take charge, a habit developed while growing up. We can easily see this pattern in Martha, the older sister of Mary and Lazarus. She was used to being in control.

The fact that Martha, Mary and Lazarus are remembered for their hospitality takes on added significance when we note that hospitality was a social requirement in their culture. It was considered shameful to turn anyone away from your door. Apparently Martha's family met this requirement very well.

Martha worried about details. She wished to please, to serve, to do the right thing--but she often succeeded in making everyone around her uncomfortable. Perhaps as the oldest she feared shame if her home did not measure up to expectations. She tried to everything she could to make sure that wouldn't happen. As a result, she found it hard to relax and enjoy her guests and even harder to accept Mary's lack of cooperation in all the preparations. Martha's frustration was so intense that she finally asked Jesus to settle the matter. He gently corrected her attitude and showed her that her priorities, though good, were not the best. The personal attention she gave her guests should be more important than the comforts she tried to provide for them.

Later, following her brother Lazarus's death, Martha could hardly help being herself. When she heard Jesus was finally coming, she rushed out to meet him and expressed her inner conflict of disappointment and hope (John 11:20). Jesus pointed out that her hope was too limited. He was not only Lord beyond death, he was Lord over death--the resurrection and the life! Moments later, Martha again spoke without thinking, pointing out that four-day-old corpses are well on their way to decomposition. Her awareness of details sometimes kept her from seeing the whole picture, but Jesus was consistently patient with her.

In our last picture of Martha, she is once again serving a meal to Jesus and his disciples. She has not stopped serving. But the Bible records her silence this time (John 12:2). She has begun to learn what her younger sister already knew--that worship begins with silence and listening to the Word.

Strengths

1. Martha was known as a hospitable homemaker.
2. Martha believed in Jesus with growing faith.
3. Martha had a strong desire to do everything exactly right.

Mistakes

1. She expected others to agree with her priorities.
2. Was overly concerned with details.
3. Limited Jesus's power to this life

Lessons to Learn from Martha

1. Getting caught up in details can make us forget the main reasons for our actions. 
2. There is a proper time to listen to Jesus and a proper time to work for him.
3. Martha learns that very important 'one thing' that Jesus wants for all of us. Jesus teaches Martha that the most important thing in life is to seek His presence. We need to have a close and intimate relationship with Him. When we get that 'one thing' right then everything else will fall into place. Pray that God gives you a listening ear to hear his voice so that you know how to respond to him.

Bible Verse

"Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation". Isaiah 12:2, NIV

Prayer

Dear Father in heaven, we thank you that you are so near us and that we may be near you. We thank you that throughout our days we may be people who listen to you with all our hearts and minds, a listening people who can receive what is good and true for our lives and who can witness to the power you give us through the Savior. Protect us in all things. Look into our hearts and into the situation of each one of us, where many things are still faulty and unclear. Deliver us from evil, for the kingdom shall be yours. From you the power shall come. Your glory shall radiate from our lives, and we shall praise and thank you forevermore. In Jesus Name. Amen.

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