Gratified in Service

Assuring Hope
Jesus, the Promised Servant-leader

Luke 10:38-42 (The Message)

Mary and Martha

 ^38-40As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."  ^41-42The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."

For Reflection

When my wife prepares for company, she is a changed woman. Fierce focus drive her to cook and clean.  It is almost always best to stay out of her way.

Martha had high expectations for her own servitude.  She also assumed (as my wife does of me) that Mary shared her presumption of urgent need and that Mary should share her labor.  Martha had a bad case of the shoulda-beens.  Mary shoulda-been working at Martha's side.  That's the proper service to Christ!  Was Martha jealous?  Did she see Martha's role as one of privileged?  When serving the Master what is essential?

Pray
help us to strike a balance among those things while necessary are not essential.  Help us to find time for the essential things.  Help us to see that our need to please is not clouded by false expectations of our action and the action or others.  Help us not to see our selves in comparison to others or others in comparison to ourselves.  Help us to understand our selves as you understand us.