And There's the Other Problem

Okay, okay, Martha had a problem: distracted, anxious, troubled, worried, bothered... Just as evidenced in my conversation with my husband (You See, There's the Problem), we can acknowledge the problem, but if it is while our hands are on our hips, our eyes are rolling, our mouths are spouting our defense, and our foot is nervously tapping to get back to it, we're missing the other problem. And the other problem is BIG.

One of the issues in the debate over Mary and Martha is that too often we jump to Martha's defense because we see ourselves in her. It doesn't matter what type (A, B, whatever) you are, I'm betting some chocolate you've been distracted, anxious, troubled, worried, bothered. Hasn't everyone? Certainly it's okay, right? I mean, it's not something that would land us on America's Most Wanted. So, we surmise our behavior is defendable. We assume if we're doing something helpful, we are in the clear (even if it causes us to be a tad on edge.)

Another flaw in the debate comes when we allow our minds to twist the image of Mary so the scale tips in favor of her hard-working sister. Maybe I'm the only one who has done it; but if you've stood up for Martha, tell me you didn't envision Mary sitting among the men in the living room batting her eyes, tilting her head, and tee-heeing at everything they said. So wrong, but so often our nature. When we're caught on our heels, we desperately want to find something wrong with someone else, even if it's far from the truth.

The biggest issue in the debate is that when we are defending Martha, we are arguing with Jesus. Let that sink in for a minute. Actually, let it soak in. Take a deep breath, let it out, clear away any of the "but" arguments left, and listen to Him:

"Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:40-42

You see, Martha's problem wasn't in the serving. Her problem was in her heart. She was so pulled she neglected the one thing that was necessary. I'm thankful this "one thing" isn't unknown. Jesus wasn't being cunning like Curly in City Slickers or curious like Teddy in Night at the Museum. He clearly and (I believe) tenderly identified the problem, and He presented the solution.

Funny thing that Martha had walked right up to the Solution. Do you think she failed to recognize it because she'd already determined her own quick fix? For someone like me who wants the details, it's hard not to wonder about Martha's response. What did she say? What did she do? How long did it take before she fell to her knees? While some specifics are left out, we can be sure the key point is not. What was the good portion? Remember what Mary had been doing before Martha bustled in:
And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching.

Mary wasn't trying to irritate her sister or get out of work. She wasn't flighty or flirty. Her intentions were pure, her method sure. Mary was fully in the moment, and she was captivated by her King. I want to live in that moment.