RELATIONSHIP NOT BUSYNESS

We live in a day and age where a lot is expected of us. We have one set of expectations and responsibilities at work. We have yet another set of expectations and responsibilities at home. And, if you are involved in church, there is still another set of expectations and responsibilities there. It doesn’t take long before our lives become a vicious cycle of running from one responsibility to another. When our life gets to this point, often frustration, exhaustion, and discouragement are not far behind.

The story of two sisters is told in Luke chapter 10. Two sisters who are very different from each other. Martha is the doer. She is running around taking care of everything. She has made sure that every detail is taken care of and that nothing is missed. She knows how things need to look and she is making sure it happens. To watch her, you would believe her greatest joy comes from serving. There may have been a time that serving was a joy to her, but now it simply makes her anxious and troubled (v. 41).

The second sister, Mary, is much more relaxed. She’s that sister that doesn’t really worry about much. She is just enjoying each moment as it comes. When the guests come, she is enjoying them instead of rushing around making preparations. On this day the guest is someone special; none other than the Lord Jesus himself. This all becomes more than Martha can take. Her frustration ultimately boils over and she exclaims, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me.” Jesus responds, “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 10:41-42, ESV).

Martha had made a classic mistake. Martha related her righteousness to busyness. Mary, on the other hand, related her righteousness to relationship. While Martha’s workaholic tendencies may have been a virtue on most days, they were not on this day. Genuine righteousness is rooted in relationship not busyness. A mistake we can hardly blame Martha for making as we are often guilty of the same.