There is only one thing worth being concerned about, Mary has discovered it, and will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41 (NLT)
As Women we lead very busy lives. This is a reality but if we take some time to sit back and evaluate our priorities, we may find that we may be creating additional stress to our lives. This stress can lead to unnecessary pressure, worry, and anxiety which will ultimately lead to other health related issues. NONE of this is God’s will for our life! Our priorities shift but we need to ensure that we are clear on what is needed for the season that we are in. As I was thinking through this topic, Mary and Martha came to mind so let’s go to the Word.
We encounter Martha a few times in the New Testament. Jesus would develop a close relationship with Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus. In Luke 10, Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and she, like many of us, didn’t waste any time making sure that He and His disciples were accommodated. Hospitality seemed to be her ministry so much so that she was offended that Mary did not involve herself in the preparations (Luke 10:39) She questioned Jesus about this in Luke 10:40: “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work?” You see some may try to paint Martha in a negative light based on this scripture, but the truth is that what she was doing in terms of caring for her guests was needful. Jesus and his Disciples traveled a lot, on foot, and there were times where they weren’t welcomed in certain cities. They needed a soft place to land, and Martha’s house was that place. Martha’s mistake was in imposing what she felt was needed on Mary who had chosen to sit and listen at Jesus’ feet that day.
So, Jesus, like only He could, helped Martha gain some perspective on the matter in our anchor scripture. I’m sure He was very grateful for her efforts, but He wanted to make it clear that she was doing “the most” as we would say today. She created a situation where she added undo stress to her own plate and projected her frustration on Mary who remained unbothered. Can you say been there, done that? And let’s be clear, I think we would all be a little frustrated with Ms. Mary but the point that I want to drive home is, there is power in establishing priorities. We can have peace, we can rest, and we can have joy. So this week, pray and ask the Lord to help you identify where you have assumed responsibility in the absence of necessity.