Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
It’s the start of a new year! The calendar is waiting to be filled in with events and tasks. There is still the opportunity to write in quiet times and tasks I want to accomplish this year. I am a list maker and heading the list for 2025 was purging things from my home to sell in a garage sale. The money will be donated to an organization with which I serve. I live in the home where I grew up and where I raised my daughters. It is filled with four generations of stuff. Thankfully, it is not a large house.
This morning, I was contemplating how to organize and price items efficiently when I wondered why I had gathered so many things. Why I felt I needed so many dishes, so many toys, so many books (this one really hurt) in my life. Why did I spend so much time gathering things that now sit in my basement waiting to be in someone else’s basement?
How much better if I had heard, years ago, “Lynnette, Lynnette, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” I regret that I often worked too hard on things, that I missed taking time to sit at the feet of Jesus. To read His Word and to contemplate and listen to Him. Even now as I have more time, I often spend time frivolously.
So, I want to give you some advice for this new year. You do not need to do it all. The question that Martha asked Jesus was “. . . do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?” Something tells me that you probably have uttered those same words at times. And you probably will at some point this year say them again. Remember Jesus replied to Martha to weigh what was necessary, what was important. Did Jesus need an elaborate meal served with the best dinnerware and goblets? An elaborate array of food? Or a simple, nourishing meal which gave the sustenance they needed to continue? “The implication was that Martha should listen to Jesus more and labor for Him less” (Dr. Constable Commentary on Luke 10).
As your calendar fills with serving Him this new year, choose to treasure your time with Jesus more than you treasure what people think of your hospitality skills. Do what needs to be done, and if you don’t have enough help, don’t think you must do it all. Don’t be anxious to do it all. Do what is necessary.
Taking It Further:
Are there times when you feel the need to do more because of what people might think of you? How can you change your response to these thoughts?
