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Mary & Martha, part 2

Yesterday I began telling the true story of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha was an energetic, outgoing, take-charge kind of person. She would probably be your first choice for a person to organize a major event in your local church or school.

She had her big chance to show her skills when Jesus of Nazareth came to town. In the gospel of Luke, chapter 10, we found her rushing around the house, doing her best to serve her Guest of Honor - only to suddenly discover that her sister, Mary, was not following her around the house, nor doing anything to help get the meal ready for their Special Visitor. Instead, Mary was simply sitting in the living room and listening to Jesus.

Angry with Mary and upset that so much still needed to be done, Martha burst in on the conversation that her Guest of Honor, Jesus of Nazareth, was having with Mary. Martha exploded, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me."

While these actions were obvious enough, the hearts behind these behaviors could only be discerned by God. To Martha's dismay, Christ was not fooled by appearances.

First, He looked into Mary's heart, and was pleased to see her active adoration, her unabashed love for God. (By the way, wouldn't you like to have been in on His conversation with her?)

Next, He looked into Martha's heart. What he saw there is a sobering reminder for all of us. Jesus saw that Martha was deeply distracted by all her service for Him. Jesus, being the God who loves us, loved Martha just as He loved Mary. Yet, He needed to draw her attention back to her real purpose. His loving rebuke was this: "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."

His brief response, like the sharp scalpel of a skillful surgeon, exposed two infections that had probably been festering inside Martha for some time. The first was her misunderstanding and intolerance of Mary's "poorly-timed" desire to spend a few moments with their Guest.

The second was her preoccupation with busyness. Even the busyness of ministering to the physical needs of the King of kings.

Rebuked, she backed away in confusion and embarrassment.

Let's look at these two women, born of the same stock and living in the same house-yet contrasting dramatically in their response to a visit by the King. We can learn much by viewing them through lifestyle worship lenses.

First, lifestyle worship is simple, not complicated. Mary and Martha demonstrate one scenario in which this distinction shouts to be heard. Martha's motivation is not revealed to us as it was to Jesus Christ. Perhaps she was a compulsive perfectionist at heart. Maybe her desire to please the King was based on a need for applause, a "Well done, good and faithful chef."

Whatever her incentive, it led to a long list-and a short fuse. The term translated "distracted" does tell us that she was "pulled in different directions by anxious cares." Her competing cares were running her ragged.

And what about Mary? Mary plainly adored Him. Thirstily she sat and drank in every word and move of Jesus Christ. Mary was a living example of Psalm 42, verses1-2: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God."

The most significant contrast between these two women was not their action but their attention: Martha's was fractured, complicated by competing cares; Mary's was focused, simply centered on the Lord she loved. Lifestyle worship is simple, not complicated.

Second, lifestyle worship welcomes heart, not formula. Martha was a follower of traditional social customs. People are people, whether of that century or this. Then, as today, it was customary to "knock yourself out" for company. If you don't, what will they think? What will people say behind your back about your hospitality? Martha was captive to the same syndrome. But Mary followed her heart.

And Christ knew the difference. Lifestyle worship welcomes heart, not formula.