Are you Mary or Martha today?

In the book of Luke there is the story of two sisters, Mary and Martha, who hosted a dinner where Jesus and His disciples attended. Martha, spent her time preparing the food, keeping the guests happy, and cleaning up after everyone. She did all this because Jesus was there, she wanted everything to be perfect for Him, she wanted to show her best to Him, wanted to be worthy of Him.

But she grew frustrated because her sister Mary was no help to her at all.

Mary stayed glued to Jesus' side, laying at His feet, tending to Jesus and only Jesus as she hung on His every word.

In the story, Martha became upset. I'm sure she felt cheated by her sister and felt like she was doing all the work. I wonder if she looked at Mary sitting by Jesus and thought,

"I would love to be there, listening to Jesus, but then who would bring out all of the food? Who would clean up the dishes? Who would refill the wine? Who would keep everything running smoothly? Surely the Jesus knows I want to be with Him, I just can't. If only Mary would help, then I wouldn't have do to it alone! Then maybe we could switch places from time to time...or finish early! But it still needs to get done! If I don't do it or she doesn't do it, who will?"

Maybe that's why she spoke out. Maybe that's why she asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But this is what Jesus said:

⁴¹"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,
⁴²but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:41-42

Jesus told Martha that all the things she was worried about were unnecessary. Not to say they were unimportant or stupid, but unneeded. The only thing she needed to concern herself with was spending time with Him, building a relationship with Him, learning from Him, and that's why Mary had made the better choice. Jesus told Martha that because Mary had chosen Him, no one could take Him away from her and, likewise, no one could take her away from Him.

Jesus wanted the same for Martha. He wanted them to be close and to spend as much time as they could together because He loved her, and, though I'm sure He appreciated her efforts and her desire to make everything perfect for Him, He knew that He didn't need perfect. He just needed her.

I just keep going over what Jesus said in my head, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." and I keep thinking about all those times where I've felt like Martha. Where I've stood knee deep in the flood of my schedules, deadlines, and responsibilities and said, "But if I don't get this done now, then it'll never get done!" or "If I don't do it, then no one will."

But Jesus said not to worry about that stuff. He said, all that other stuff is just EXTRA and that as long as you take care of what's important, which in this case is my relationship with Him...all that other stuff will fall into place.

All that other stuff will get taken care of, by the most reliable person I sometimes never ask for....

The truth for today?

If I don't get this done now, God will take care of it.

If I don't do it now, God will take care of it.

That is always the right answer.