Most everyone is familiar with the Bible story of Mary and Martha in Luke’s Gospel narrative. Jesus visits 2 sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha is very busy with serving while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to the Master. I am going to expand on Martha’s chores to include the food preparation. Soon Martha complains to Jesus that she is having to do all the work and won’t He make Mary come help. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” Jesus gently rebukes Martha saying, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.” In my mind, I can just imagine a peace-filled Mary and a frustrated, pouty Martha.
Martha could have handled the situation so much differently. I can think of 6 various approaches that would have yielded her a blessing instead of a rebuke. She would have been praised for being industrious like the Proverbs 31 women of many talents and many tasks.
First, Martha could have asked nicely. My Mother used to tell me that “you catch more bees with honey’. Her meaning was clear: if I spoke with more kindness, I could get the desired result I wanted. What if Martha had said, “Lord, I really want to hear everything you have to say. Could you please spare Mary for a few minutes and then we can both be attentive to your words?” It just sounds more pleasant and congenial. I also remember being told in a college class that communication is not what you say, but what others hear you saying. This makes it a tough to please everybody. But that is just it, remember to ask with a please!
Secondly, Martha could have invited Jesus into the kitchen. I don’t know how Biblical kitchens were set up, but it seems to me that if Jesus were in the kitchen with Martha she would have been able to do her chores and listen to Jesus. Women are naturals at multi-tasking. We can easily peel carrots and have a discussion as we stir the soup and time the baking bread. Martha could do her work, which I believe the Lord would honor her for, and hear Him.
Another option for Martha would have been to quickly hire a neighborhood girl to come and help. The villages were tightly interconnected with family and friends. Martha could have appealed for help among her neighbors. Then she would have been freed up to join in on “the better part”.
Yet a fourth choice would have been to be better prepared. It is rare for a true housekeeper not to be ready at the drop of a hat for company coming. There were no trips to the market or pantry. One had to think ahead and plan out meals. Martha was not only unprepared to serve and feed Jesus, but her own household as well.
A fifth option would have been to borrow food from a neighbor. One Gospel parable is of the man who bangs on his neighbor’s door until he gets a loaf of bread. Persistance from the man banging on the door brings charity from the neighbor. If Martha had good relations with her neighbors, they would have been glad to share.
The sixth response that Martha could have had, and the best of all, was to drop all she was doing and just be with Jesus, like Mary was doing. Jesus did not want food, He wanted their hearts. He had Mary’s and He yearned for Martha’s.
I have often thought of this story when I get so caught up in minor details that I miss the bigger picture. I do not want Jesus to someday tell me, “Jeanne, Jeanne, you were anxious and worried about so many things.” I know that ‘the better part’ is an intimate life with Him, walking daily in His Word, worshipping with other Believers, loving those He put into my life. When my life is done I want to hear Him say, “Well done my good and faithful servant.”
