I had an interesting thought today while reading to my son a children's version of the story of Mary and Martha. You know the one. Where Mary is sitting and listening to Jesus and Martha is working. Then Martha goes whining to Jesus (per the book) "make Mary help me". The words of Jesus I am sure can be quoted by many of us. Here's my thought:
So often I concern myself with how I can better be like Mary. Or I concern myself with how not to be like Martha but to instead choose to be like Mary. These are worthy pursuits. Here's the new thought - do I choose to not compare myself with others who seem to be just doing nothing? Do I elevate the direction God has me going and the things He has directed me to do in such a way that I use it as a standard to judge what others are doing or where they are at in their journey with God? I don't think it was wrong of Martha necessarily to be making lunch for everyone or whatever she was doing. I think the point was that she should not have wanted Mary to be deprived of the encounter she was having with Jesus just because Martha was busy. Sometimes we need to sacrifice our jealousy and haughty bitterness on the altar and instead see the treasure who is listening at the feet of Jesus becoming more like Him and bless them! And maybe even make them lunch.
