Priorities

“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 NIV)

This is a short story and it appears only in Luke’s gospel, but it is a must read for every member of a task-oriented culture.  Jesus has come to visit the sisters of his good friend, Lazarus.  Martha, being very aware of the cultural practice of hospitality, is busy preparing a meal for this special guest.  However, she becomes increasingly frustrated at her sister for not helping with the preparations.  Instead, Mary is hanging out in the living room listening to Jesus.  Finally, Martha can take it no longer, and in a breach of Jewish etiquette, implores Jesus to scold Mary for her laziness.

I once knew a woman who would invite people to her home for a meal, but would spend the whole time preparing the meal and then cleaning up.  She barely spent any time with the guests she had invited into her home.   She was keen on hospitality, but then missed the essence of it. I think this was Jesus’ point to Martha.  When we get so focused on the task that we miss the people involved, we have missed the point entirely.  Here was the Son of God in the living room and Martha thought it more important to be in the kitchen.

It is easy to look at her and be critical, but how often do we do the same?  How often do the tasks at hand overshadow the people in our lives, whether it be a spouse, our children, friends, people in need, or the Lord Himself?  It is so easy to get distracted from what is truly important.  What Jesus told Martha boils down to priorities.  He didn’t criticize her for wanting to prepare a meal, but rather her failure to recognize the unique opportunity before her to spend time with Him.

There will always be tasks to complete, but what this story illustrates for us is those tasks can, at times, distract us from focusing on the people in our lives.   As you go about your day, remember the story of Mary and Martha.  You may have a lot to do, but don’t allow those tasks to distract you from more important opportunities that may come your way.  
© Jim Musser 2016