“Now while they were on their way, Jesus entered a village [called Bethany], and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching. But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.” But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42 AMP

Most days, I wake up and hit the ground running. My to-do list is waiting for me and has been keeping me up at night. Today is finally the day I’m going to check everything off. That is until I accidentally leave my phone at home, have to turn back to get it, and the line at the grocery store is much longer than expected. The healthy meal prep I planned is at home, and I’m starving, so off to the drive-thru to find something to hold me over until dinner. I checked 4 out of the 11 items on the list, but somehow it’s already 5PM. Dinner needs to be made, and my son has afternoon activities. Another full day has passed and I go to bed feeling exactly how I did the night before; exhausted, disappointed, overwhelmed, and anxious. I convince myself that certainly somewhere out there, there’s another woman doing everything 10x’s better than I am. Oh, and she also hit the gym, and memorized scripture with her little ones to boot. Can anyone relate?

It’s evident that we’re living in a world full of Martha’s when Jesus highlighted Mary’s actions to us. Culture glorifies busyness and if we are not careful, we can easily fall into the elusive trap of do, do, do, go, go, go. It’s no wonder we often lack peace and don’t even know how to rest. Have we missed the ONE thing that is NECESSARY? Are we missing Jesus, because we are so distracted and overwhelmed by the cares of this world?

Jesus had 3 years to accomplish the complete atonement for mankind, perform many signs, miracles and wonders, AND train the disciples to carry the gospel to the ends of the earth. Talk about a daunting task. What example did Jesus leave behind? No where in the gospels do we read that Jesus rushed from town to town, worrying if He would be able to get everything done, heal all the people, perform enough miracles, Why? Because He did ONLY what His father asked Him to do. We often read in scripture, how Jesus would go away to spend time with the Father. His mind was on the ONE thing that mattered.

Our lives are full of many seasons. I do believe that there are times God has us busy with good things, but I do not believe it’s meant to be our lifestyle. That is how burnout, bitterness, and resentment, start to take root in our hearts. It’s so easy to judge Martha in the text. I mean she was in the presence of JESUS and she still managed to find a way to get mad at her sister and call her out. But how many times have we gone to the Lord in prayer complaining about our

 spouses, children, coworkers, and even the body of Christ for not doing more of what WE think should be done? I’ve most definitely been Martha far more often than I have been Mary.

John 10:10 tells us, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” I can assure you, there is so much more that Jesus has for us in this life and it’s not to be chronically overwhelmed, worried, and anxious. He is the Prince of Peace. He came to give us true everlasting Joy. Apart from Him, we can do NOTHING. I urge you lovingly, to allow the Lord to take inventory of your life and let Him take over.

Ask God how you can consistently choose the better part, the part that will never be taken away from you. Let us unsubscribe from the societal norm to be busy busy busy, and take our rightful, peaceful place, at the feet of Jesus, undistracted and fully surrendered.