Mary and Martha
Proverbs 31:15
“She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.”
Expressing our love language
Everything is important to God…
If you have ever read the story about Mary and Martha, you’ve probably noticed that both sisters appear to be completely opposite in character. Martha is the great host to everyone in her home, making sure that they are well taken care of and Mary seems to be lax in her duties and spending all of her time washing the feet of Jesus with a very expensive oil, that would cost most of us a year’s wages. While we might overlook these attributes in both women, each expressed a very special role with the love they had for others and for Jesus.
Some may say that Martha was the diligent worker, and Mary was the lazy one not particularly concerned about anything. But was that really the case? For both women, they each had a great love to give, but they displayed it in completely different ways. Just as we too all have different characters and personalities. Being a faithful follower of Christ and expressing our love to all the people in our lives can be very complex and misunderstood. We all have our “love language” and one is not greater than the other, as in the case of Mary and Martha.
No one is Perfect
Resting in the presence of Jesus…
As we go throughout our day and in our quite time with God in prayer, sometimes we can “overwork” ourselves into a frenzy, trying to be the perfect Christian. Even causing more stress than is necessary when in reality we need to “rest” and “relax” in His presence. Women are very efficient, always wanting to keep everything in order with family and work and the tasks can be exhausting.
In those moments, we need to remember Mary and how she decided to ignore everything around her and focus on her faith in Jesus. Some will not see all the good that we do and we can feel unappreciated and ignored, but the beauty is, God sees. God knows. Nothing we do is overlooked by God, even when we are invisible to everyone else.
Take a step back and give yourself a break from time to time. Rome wasn’t built in a day as they say, and we shouldn’t try to conquer the entire weeks duties in twenty-four hours. Easy to say, harder to follow through. We are all guilty of doing too much and then regretting it later complaining that we have no time and that no-one cares that I’m doing all of this work (sounds like Martha). Remember to take some quiet time and rest in God, get your peace back and don’t concern yourself with those that don’t concern you.
“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”