Is living like Mary something you struggle with?
If so, you might relate to this post by Leslie Tally.

Is it blasphemous to dread a piece of scripture?

Unholy, maybe?

I don’t know what to call it, but I know how it feels… that deep, gut-punch sensation that settles into my soul as each rustling page turns brings me one sentence closer to the verses I dread. They’re nestled in the middle of the gospel of Luke, waiting for me, calling to me, whether I’m physically holding God’s Word or not. His message knows no bounds. 

Visiting Mary and Martha

You may be familiar with the story:

Jesus, the Messiah, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World, is visiting a village. You may have heard that He visits sisters Mary and Martha, but it’s interesting to note that scripture says “a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.” (Luke 10:38) Whether Mary lived there or not is unclear, but the verses leave no room for misunderstanding whose home Jesus visits: Martha rules this roost.

That means she does all the things women do to make the house a home. Times may have changed, but those responsibilities remain the same. The cleaning, cooking, and preparing for all the things will weigh heavily on any woman’s shoulders. Still, she welcomes Jesus into her home. Let’s give her credit for hospitality.

Martha Wasn’t Wrong…

I can see the scene clearly: Martha runs herself ragged, because it matters that her home is welcoming to Jesus and whoever He brings with Him. It matters that the space is clean, the food is prepared, the table is set. It matters that we prepare space in our homes, in our lives, for our Savior… doesn’t it?

She’s not wrong, but maybe she’s a bit too thorough.

Even when she feels the fatigue, it’s all worth it, because when the work is done, she knows she will get to sit at the feet of Jesus… except that someone is already there. 

“And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching.” (Luke 10:39) Just like that, resentment courses through her high-strung veins, because if she had just a little help, then maybe she could actually have time to sit with Jesus in her own home.

Right? Who else knows this feeling?

If Only…

If someone would just help me with this laundry, I might be able to spend thirty minutes reading my Bible. If someone else would wash the dishes, I could have a few minutes alone for a quiet prayer time. 

Related Post: But If Not or Only If?

So Martha does what we all want to do. She confronts Jesus— Jesus, the one who cares so much that He would give His life on the cross for Martha, Mary, you, and me— with a Don’t you care? question. Like a child tattling to a parent, she urges Him: “Tell her then to help me!” (Luke 10:40) 

Listen, Listen

Then Jesus, in all His grace, answers not with a harsh rebuke, but with a gentle “Martha, Martha…” He calls her by name not once, but twice. Not only does He know her personally by name, but maybe Jesus also knows that woman is not likely to listen the first time.

Why?

Because she is “anxious and troubled about many things,” and He knows it. (Luke 10:41) 

In my Bible, I have my own name written twice beside this scripture. Twice, because I’m aware of what it takes to get through to me, and so is God.

Like Martha, I am too often distracted by, and anxious about, all the things that seem to matter. I want so badly to make the space perfect for Jesus to have His place in our home. I get so caught up in doing it all that I forget: He doesn’t need my help in this place.

I have given Him my heart, my life. His work is about making all things new here within me, little by little, day by day.

Living Like Mary

The real burn is that Mary had it right in that moment. She was focused solely on Jesus, the only One we need. I feel the sting of envy when I imagine how wonderful it must be able to throw all the distractions aside, even in the busiest moments, and just sit with Him. 

Related Post: It’s Okay to be Mary in a World Full of Marthas

What does this mean for those of us who love Jesus with all our hearts, but yet struggle to sit at His feet? Those of us who are hard-wired to do all the things? What does it mean for me?

Maybe it means that I have to take my angst with me to the kitchen sink and scrub it away until my joy shines like the soap bubbles. Maybe it means that I take my resentment out with the wash and realize that folding the towels might just be my best “alone time” with my Savior today. Either way, I get to choose how I do the mundane things in this life: either with or without an awareness of His presence. He will be there, regardless. 

But when we choose to intentionally acknowledge Jesus, we can let Him infiltrate our hearts even amid the monotonous work of our never-ending to-do lists. Once we have chosen Him, just like Mary, “[He] will not be taken away.” (Luke 10:42) 

Something to Ponder with Martha

The Bible doesn’t tell us the rest of the story, but I like to imagine that Jesus came alongside Martha for the clean-up that night. If He could wash the disciples’ feet, then I daresay He cleaned a dish or two.

Later, when Martha lost sight of His presence and inevitably became consumed by her work again, I feel certain that she heard the echoes of Jesus’s voice calling her out, “Martha, Martha,” in a gentle reminder that He is still the most important thing. 

I read those verses regularly, knowing God’s Word will hit me where it hurts but also right where I need it the most. I crave the reminder that Jesus knows me and calls me out of the distractions. I can depend on Him to keep my focus on His work in me, rather than on my work in this world.

What About You?

Do you struggle to find time to sit at the feet of Jesus because you’re so busy doing all the things? Maybe you relate all too well to Martha’s bitterness, because why can’t they just help?

Join the conversation in the comments below or in our Facebook group. We’d love to hear from you!

Meet Leslie

Leslie Tally is a dyslexia specialist and author who believes passionately in the power of the written word to change and shape lives. She lives in northeast Mississippi with her husband and two children. With roots running deep in Mississippi culture, her southern drawl is hard to miss— even in her writing. She loves reading, and much of her time is spent helping others do the same.

Related Reading

At the Feet of Jesus

Mary had a heart for Jesus like no other. We first meet her in Luke 10, sitting at the feet of Jesus. Later, in John 12, Mary returns to the feet of Jesus, dousing them with expensive perfume and wiping them clean with her hair. But Mary is just one person who spent time at the feet of Jesus.

Join Heather Hart at the feet of Jesus in this 21-day devotional book. In addition to reading about Mary, you’ll also spend time with:

• The bleeding woman.
• Those at the foot of the cross.
• Jairus.
• Mary Magdalene.
• The Syrophoenician Woman.
• And so many more who spent time at the feet of Jesus.

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