Martha Got a Bad Wrap!

All this talk about Mary Lately, I thought someone needed to point out some cool stuff about Martha, and yes, she was pretty cool!

First, lets consider this text... Luke 10:38-42

"Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

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.”

I just felt it interesting and necessary to point out that Martha's name was actually mentioned first, and Mary was referred to as her sister. Isn't that interesting? Perhaps, Martha and Jesus actually had a friendship going on before He even met Mary, just a thought.

Another interesting thing is that Martha "working" really isn't what she is being rebuked for. She is being rebuked for being troubled and worried.

I don't know about you, but for me, I have spent much time at Jesus feet, thinking I was like Mary, but I was actually troubled and worried while I was in prayer. Sitting and worshiping Jesus is a heart condition, not a physical movement position. There have been times I have been running around like a mad woman in ministry and yet my heart is at peace and full of adoration for the Lord. And then there are times when my heart posture is worried, frustrated, throwing in the towel, etc, and I collapse at the feet of the Lord and stay there for weeks to re-group. Can you relate?

Anyhow, I guess what I am asking you to consider in this post is the posture of adoration in your heart. Also, I would probably like us, Christians, to stop referring to being a "Mary" or a "Martha" as if there is Biblical Precedence to those who "sit" and those who "work" for God. I would submit to you that we have been duped into false theology of a "Mary" figure verses a "Martha" figure in the church at large.

The family of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus should be looked at as a whole, they were Jesus' favorite people (don't tell John the Beloved I said that!) You have a picture of Bridal Partnership= Intimacy+Serving+Supernatural. We need to operate in all three aspects. Our Intimacy is the well from which our "service" or "ministry" flows out of. We thrive in both areas when we are operating in the Resurrection Power.

So there you have it, please share with me your thoughts, did you feel the same way I did, with a negative view of Martha? Did this post shed light on a possibility that Martha's been getting a bad wrap? I'd love to hear from you!

- gina

*for more on this topic check out Pastor Steve Jow's Message "The Identity of A Martha"