Lord, Don't You Care?
This summer I had the joy of leading the Bible Discovery time at a VBS in Selkirk. We did the Group Curriculum and the theme was "Shipwrecked: Rescued by Jesus". Everyday was a particular theme that went like this, "When I (some emotion or situation we find ourselves in)..... Jesus rescues!" Tuesday's theme was "When I worry, Jesus rescues!" Now, I've had my battles with worry so I was interested in seeing what Gospel story would be told on this day.
It was Luke 10:38-42 - the story of Martha and Mary when Martha invites Jesus over for a meal. The focus is on Martha's worry and Jesus' teaching that "only one thing is needed" which is to attend to Jesus. What caught my attention is the power of worry and the impact it had on Martha's relationship with Jesus. Specifically, worry caused Martha to 1) question Jesus' heart toward her and 2) tell Jesus (who is God) what to do. Yikes!!!
Let's look at Martha's two comments:
"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to [Jesus] and asked "Lord don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
First Martha questions Jesus. She asks if he cares about her and the situation she finds herself in. Often this kind of questioning can hold a doubt behind it. Think of times when you've asked it or wanted to ask it of someone. Usually for me, it was because I thought the person didn't care or was tempted to believe that because of the way I was feeling - abandoned, neglected, unnoticed. Martha is feeling alone in the duties of hospitality and in reality she is the one doing all the work. That leads to the second statement - a command. Martha tells Jesus what to do: "Tell her to help me!"
Martha was aware of and respected Jesus' authority. She saw that Mary was giving all her attention to Jesus so Martha intervened and tried to get help the best way she knew - tell Jesus to tell her to help. While the whole situation is understandable if we let our emotions navigate our actions, Martha's way of responding isn't the way to live. Jesus (I believe gently) corrects her: "Martha, Martha...you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Martha's distraction about the details and determination to have her way in a situation resulted in worry and upset that motivated her to question and command Jesus. I am still a little shocked by this when I think about it. No wonder we are commanded "Do not worry" (Matt. 6:25) and "Do not be anxious about anything" (Phil. 4:6) if worry can motivated us to distrust and disrespect God is such a blatant way! For me, worrying often feels like the most natural thing to do yet I know that by submitting to it, I end up doubting God's love for me (or others) and demanding my way instead of asking for His will to be done in the situation that is stressing me out.
So was there another option for Martha? Is there another option for me (or you) when the clock is ticking and there is lots of work to be done? I believe so.
My idea for Martha: instead of being distracted by the preparations, she could have focused on why she was doing what she was doing. She was doing the necessary work so that Jesus could be hosted. Jesus was in her house! Jesus was available to listen to! I think she could have talked about clear, realistic expectations of supper (or whatever it was she was preparing) and found herself grateful to be serving the Lord. I also think she could have asked for help. Asked, not demanded, and seen how Jesus would respond to her.
My idea for myself: is to listen to my voice - whether I say it out loud or in my heart - and when I am asking "Lord, don't you care..." take a look at what I am stressed out about and what I can do to change my expectation to match the priorities in the kingdom of God as well as to drawn near to Jesus and ask for His help.
Do you have any suggestions for how Martha could have handled the situation? Or for those of us who struggle with worry? Feel free to let me know!
in Christ,
Tracy
It was Luke 10:38-42 - the story of Martha and Mary when Martha invites Jesus over for a meal. The focus is on Martha's worry and Jesus' teaching that "only one thing is needed" which is to attend to Jesus. What caught my attention is the power of worry and the impact it had on Martha's relationship with Jesus. Specifically, worry caused Martha to 1) question Jesus' heart toward her and 2) tell Jesus (who is God) what to do. Yikes!!!
Let's look at Martha's two comments:
"But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to [Jesus] and asked "Lord don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
First Martha questions Jesus. She asks if he cares about her and the situation she finds herself in. Often this kind of questioning can hold a doubt behind it. Think of times when you've asked it or wanted to ask it of someone. Usually for me, it was because I thought the person didn't care or was tempted to believe that because of the way I was feeling - abandoned, neglected, unnoticed. Martha is feeling alone in the duties of hospitality and in reality she is the one doing all the work. That leads to the second statement - a command. Martha tells Jesus what to do: "Tell her to help me!"
Martha was aware of and respected Jesus' authority. She saw that Mary was giving all her attention to Jesus so Martha intervened and tried to get help the best way she knew - tell Jesus to tell her to help. While the whole situation is understandable if we let our emotions navigate our actions, Martha's way of responding isn't the way to live. Jesus (I believe gently) corrects her: "Martha, Martha...you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Martha's distraction about the details and determination to have her way in a situation resulted in worry and upset that motivated her to question and command Jesus. I am still a little shocked by this when I think about it. No wonder we are commanded "Do not worry" (Matt. 6:25) and "Do not be anxious about anything" (Phil. 4:6) if worry can motivated us to distrust and disrespect God is such a blatant way! For me, worrying often feels like the most natural thing to do yet I know that by submitting to it, I end up doubting God's love for me (or others) and demanding my way instead of asking for His will to be done in the situation that is stressing me out.
So was there another option for Martha? Is there another option for me (or you) when the clock is ticking and there is lots of work to be done? I believe so.
My idea for Martha: instead of being distracted by the preparations, she could have focused on why she was doing what she was doing. She was doing the necessary work so that Jesus could be hosted. Jesus was in her house! Jesus was available to listen to! I think she could have talked about clear, realistic expectations of supper (or whatever it was she was preparing) and found herself grateful to be serving the Lord. I also think she could have asked for help. Asked, not demanded, and seen how Jesus would respond to her.
My idea for myself: is to listen to my voice - whether I say it out loud or in my heart - and when I am asking "Lord, don't you care..." take a look at what I am stressed out about and what I can do to change my expectation to match the priorities in the kingdom of God as well as to drawn near to Jesus and ask for His help.
Do you have any suggestions for how Martha could have handled the situation? Or for those of us who struggle with worry? Feel free to let me know!
in Christ,
Tracy
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