Confessions
of a “Martha”
By Becci “Martha”
Terrill
“And Jesus answered
and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many
things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will
not be taken away from her.’”
Luke
10:41-42 (NKJV)
My
name isn’t Martha, but it could be. Not because it was given to me by loving
parents, but because it’s part of my DNA. It’s who I am. Can you relate?
I’ve
known this truth for some time, even shared it with others. I’d “confess”
(because we all know that Mary chose the better way) but nothing in my life
would change. I think secretly I liked being a “Martha.” After all, how would
anything get done without “Martha’s”? Busy people get things done, right? I
wanted to be one of “those people” who got things done.
I
find myself disliking off-times that lack focus, purpose or activities. Even
vacations have schedules. When illness hits and rest is forced on me, I am
restless and discouraged.
Why
do I find it so hard to just be still for prolonged periods of time? To be in
the presence of Jesus and drink up all that He is? Is it because I won’t like
what His presence reveals in my heart? Do I find my value in service and all
that I accomplish, rather than in Jesus?
These
are hard questions that can reveal ugly truths, but sin is ugly. The Bible
says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can
know it?” (Jeremiah
17:9, NIV)
Now,
don’t get me wrong, being a “Martha” isn’t bad; neither is service. However, if
the service isn’t overflow from a heart filled with love for and worship of
Jesus, then we’d better be careful. What is our heart condition and motivation
for the service?
Martha
loved Jesus; so do I. Like her, I have much to learn from Jesus and the
“Mary’s” of this world. I’ll always be a “Martha” and I can’t change that. I can,
however, choose to stop what I’m doing and spend more time with Jesus. That is
the better way.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
During this season of Lent, we have the perfect opportunity to make time to
focus on what Jesus did for us. Consider using the Easter/Lent devotional, The Trail to the Tree, by Ann Voskamp
this Easter season. It will be good practice for us “Martha’s.” (http://www.aholyexperience.com/category/trail-to-the-tree/)
FURTHER
READING:
Luke
10:38-42; Matthew 6:6; John 15:1-5
Becci Terrill is a wife and mom to two adult daughters. She is the Children's Ministry Director at Oakwood Church.
Becci Terrill is a wife and mom to two adult daughters. She is the Children's Ministry Director at Oakwood Church.
