Martha, Martha

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things.” Luke 10:41

Those words literally jumped off the page at me. How could I have missed it all this time? Through the years I’ve heard many teachings from the story of Mary and Martha, but this time the statement Jesus made to Martha pierced me. I felt as if I was the one hearing these words from my Savior.

I love the idea of peace. In fact I long for a peaceful life. Worry, in my mind, is the furthest thing from peace, yet it’s something we all experience to one extreme or another. According to the National Institute of Mental Health web site, over 40 million Americans suffer from anxiety disorders, meaning they are “filled with fearfulness and uncertainty.”

Though many of us don’t fall into the category of a disorder, it is believed that one in four Americans are chronic worriers. The Bible warns us many times not to worry. But is that a command, or just good advice?

Matthew 6:25a “Therefore I tell you, do not worry.” It doesn’t say try not, it says do not. That sounds like a command to me. Phrases like this appear all over the Bible. In fact “fear not” is stated 350 times in the Bible.(1) I believe the scripture emphasis on worry is because God knows worry hinders our relationship with Him. The focus becomes on the circumstance rather than Him.  The good news in all this is that each of these commands against worry is followed by promises when we obey.

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” Matthew 6:25 -26

“The Lord is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid?’ Psalm 27:1

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Don’t you love how our Lord draws us into the protection of His peace? "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

It was not peaceful for Martha that day in Bethany. She had 13 plus visitors to prepare for, not to mention one of them being Jesus. She felt overwhelmed, exhausted and certainly irritated at Mary for choosing to visit with Jesus rather than helping with all the preparations. But when Martha complains to Jesus about her sister’s lack of help, she gets a surprising and convicting response.

Luke 10: 41-42 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "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."

You see peace comes when we draw close to Jesus. He would much rather have us sit at His feet and listen than focus on our worries and circumstances.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.” John 14:27

(1) Joanna Weaver, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World (Colorado Springs, CO: WaterBrook, 2007), 40