But Martha was distracted with much serving. Luke 10:40
Martha was doing what she did best, serving and caring for those around her. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. In fact, we are told to serve others. Martha was just doing it at the wrong time. She felt she had so much to do that in order to do it right she couldn’t sit and listen to Jesus.
Go and tell My servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build Me a house to dwell in. 1 Chronicles 17:4
King David aspired to build God a temple. After finishing his own palace he began plans to build God’s house. God essentially said - that’s nice, but I didn’t ask you to do that. Instead, God had David’s son Solomon accomplish it.
Jesus loved Martha deeply. David was a man after God’s own heart. But despite their good intentions, both of these servants got it wrong. David, desiring to honor God, started to do someone else’s job. Martha was so focused on serving that she did it at the wrong time.
God is so gracious in calling us to serve. As the Body, together we get to be part of fulfilling His purpose and plan. I need to be careful that I’m focused on what God has asked me, and allow you to do what God has asked you. We risk robbing each other of the privilege if we try and do every job. Each of us is called to our own valuable service and we need each other. We are parts of a whole.
My day is so full that I don’t always appreciate His presence and time at His feet, just like Martha. She gave up the best option for a good one, postponing her time with Him. The reality is, I need time with Him in order to accomplish the serving He has called me to.
I want to grow in Christ-likeness; and I need to sit with Him to do that. It also will help me to hear His direction so I keep focused on what He has called me to. Or, like David, I might wander in to extra tasks that He never asked me to do.
I want to continue to serve – but not to distraction. I want my efforts to be in work that He has given just for me. And if I make progress in that direction, maybe I won’t be so busy after all.
