Three Lessons I learned from Mary and Martha

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42

Does hospitality come naturally to you?  Do you love throwing dinner parties?  Are you that home, where people typically gather? Or do you prefer solitude?  Do you enjoy being by yourself?  Do you hate crowds and commotion?  Does the thought of throwing a dinner party make you want to crawl under your covers and not come out until everyone leaves?

Hospitality is a matter of the heart

Does the battle between being a “Mary” or a “Martha” really exist?  I have read several books and articles addressing what seems to have become the quintessential battle of the Christian woman.  I have learned a lot about life from books that address the needs of each woman.  But what do we do with the tension between the two women who coincide in my heart? Here are three lessons I have learned from the Mary and Martha battle:

1.  Martha shows hospitality–The passage names Martha as the one who invited the guest in.  What a blessing it is to be invited into another’s home.  I love it when an unannounced guest shows up on my doorstep. For me, that releases me of the duty of cleaning my house, and now I can enjoy the company.  Martha could have declined to invite people into her home under the premise she was not prepared to have company, but she offered hospitality.
   Lesson learned: the gift of hospitality is something we can all offer when the company shows up on our front porch. 
2. The comparison trap is a trap–Our stories are different.  We each have our own story to live, none of us are on the same page or share the same ending.  So, don’t compare your story to anyone else.  The only thing we have in common with each other’s stories is the author.  Martha lost her cool when she compared her story to Mary’s.
   Lesson learned:  We are all unique. Whether you are a Mary or a Martha, both women are valuable and have a purpose. 
3. Our priorities matter–Mary sits at the feet of Jesus and soak up a deep connection with Jesus. Was she concerned with the business of hosting?  I am guessing she wasn’t. Was she letting Martha do all the work so she could enjoy the company? Probably not.  Perhaps she even urged Martha to let the dishes sit in the sink and join everyone. When Jesus addresses Martha and says what Mary chooses was what was important, He is demonstrating to us, there is a time and a place for everything.
   Lesson learned:  It is essential to make time to sit at the feet of Jesus.  

We need to prioritize our time.  It is easy to let our feelings and emotions boss our priorities around. For me, I have worked hard to create a place and a routine to have my prayer and study time. I call this time and place my Soul Retreat.  Soul Retreat is about experiencing God. It is time spent away from the business of the day and reconnecting with God in worship, word, and prayer. I have a place in my home where I can retreat and do this.  You can read all about my Soul Retreat HERE.

We can prioritize our time.

So, when the author of your story shows up on the doorstep of your heart, offer hospitality by letting Him in and then sit with the Lord and enjoy His company.  I promise Jesus is more enticed to spend time with you than He is about your pot roast or clean floors! Let’s pray together for a heart of hospitality and to have the wisdom of the right priorities.

Heavenly Father, we open the doors of our hearts to you.  We long to sit at your feet and learning all you have to teach us.  We long to lay our heads on your lap and have you comfort us. We long to know you and you know us.  We pray for wisdom in making our priorities in our day; we pray you would guard us against the bossiness of our feelings and emotions that sometimes stand in our way.  Like Martha, we offer our hospitality, and like Mary, we choose to sit at your feet. Thanks to God, who wrote our story and made it unique and beautiful.  Amen.