Martha and Mary

Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

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 all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, but few thigs are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her."

Martha knew Jesus just as well as her sister Mary did. She wasn't trying to earn her way to his favour by working hard to make the meal, she was honouring him in the way she thought was required. Her desire to make everything perfect for him can't be faulted but that impossible desire overwhelmed her. Instead of recognising she was attempting too much that wasn't necessary and then adjusting her behaviour, she looked for someone to complain about. Who better than her sister, shirking her responsibility to help in household tasks, taking the selfish option of sitting and listening to Jesus?

Mary knew Jesus loved her without conditions. She valued his company, his presence, and knew he valued her for herself, not her ability to provide a tidy house or well presented meal.

How often do we think that it's more important to serve than just to be with Jesus?

This isn't the same as trying to earn our way to heaven (an impossibility) but is there sometimes a touch of justifying Jesus' care for us when our time is consumed by doing things, good things, which keep us away from actually spending time with Christ? Are we trying to say to God, "See how useful I am. You'll be glad you've taken an interest in me." Are we trying to pay back a gift that is far beyond our price range? Are we using busyness to distract ourselves and avoid what is really important?

Psalm 18:19 says, "He rescued me because he delights in me."

That is a wonderful thing to think about. He rescued me, he wants me to know him because he delights in me. Not because he wants to use me or because he wants to increase his number of followers, but because he knows that I am (you are) unique and of intrinsic value and my (your) company brings him joy.

Of course we are called to serve and act, that grows naturally out of our love for God and desire to please him, but God doesn't need our service to accomplish his purposes. He invites us to get involved and offers us the exhilarating experience of playing a part in his plans. Yet what is best is to walk with Jesus, sit with him, be with him, listen to him and enjoy his company as he delights in ours.

When that is in place, everything else falls right.

God knows what you need

A friend of mine has had a difficult 18 months. She was assaulted by a work colleague whom she thought was a friend and, though he was dismissed, found her own position in the organisation was no longer bearable thanks to the attitude of leadership and some co-workers. For the sake of her own emotional, physical and mental health she resigned a few months ago in an attempt to leave that misery behind. Then lockdown happened. Jobs can be hard to find in South Africa in the best of times but the restrictions enforced because of covid 19 make it near impossible at the moment. She was left isolating alone without an income and few ideas of what the next step would be.

God never ignores the pleas of his children.

Instead of turning her back on God she called to him in her distress. He heard and answered, not waving a magic wand to make everything go away but showing her areas of herself that she should work upon, asking her to trust him, even through the valley of the shadow of death. There was no way round, she had to go through the experience but she would not be going through it alone.

Slowly her vision started to clear and she began to discern the direction God was pointing to her. She heard his promises. Her ideas and dreams became more concrete, centring around the skills and talents she has, but people kept backing away, coming close then changing their minds. Well-meaning relatives encouraged her to leave the town she was convinced God wanted her to remain in, to go back to her home province and get a menial job. On one hand that made sense. She was getting discouraged, she needed to pay the rent; the wind and the waves were distracting her, taking her eyes away from Jesus (Matt. 14:30-31) and she was almost ready to give up saying, "I feel useless."

That afternoon she felt strongly that she shouldn't go on her normal walking route but instead turn the other way. Not knowing why, she did. After a while she met an aquaintance from church who excitedly told her about the sponsorship she'd been granted from a local charity to pay the fees for cookery school. My friend had also felt that she should get more training, in her case in sewing skills, but had no way of paying for the classes. Here was a possible solution, she too could apply to the charity for a grant towards the fees.

She continued walking, her head full of ideas of a business using her marketing and business abilities combined with opportunities for other women to use their sewing skills, working together in a way that honoured God and provided a livelihood. Would that even be possible for someone with no support network or capital?

She came to a building and went inside. At the back was a woman with three sewing machines. This woman was living the dream that my friend had. It was possible, and this was the encouragement she needed to keep her going through the long slog ahead.

"Your Father knows what you need," (Matt. 6:8) whether that's practicalities, ideas or encouragement coming just at the right time.

Help me hear your voice Lord,

That still small voice cutting through the noise,

When I take time to listen.

Let me stay so close to you that all it takes

Is a whisper,

Gently in my ear;

Not the shout to one walking away,

But the quiet murmur of a friend,

Always by my side.