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:
- 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.”
FURTHER READING:
Becci Terrill
is a wife and mom to two adult daughters. She is the Children's Ministry
Director at Oakwood Church.
