“But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘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 10:40-42

God’s encouragement…

I’ve spent most of my life as a proud, self-confessed, Martha. My pride stemmed from my ability to handle being “anxious and troubled about many things.” When I felt I had admirably vanquished my to-do list, I celebrated! For a moment. Then a new set of tasks would appear and the process of taming them began again. When I couldn’t help someone who was troubled conquer their problem, I felt it was my failure. This pattern defined my life when I knew God only from afar. I believed He was my harshest judge, and I endeavored to judge myself before He could.

When I began to read the scriptures in earnest, seeking to know Jesus my Savior instead of only knowing about Him, I was astonished! I read that God rested. (Genesis 2:2) I read that Jesus invites “all who labor and are heavy laden” to come to Him so He can give us rest. (Matthew 11:28) I was surprised to find Jesus telling Martha that it was her sister Mary who had chosen the good portion. I thought Jesus would side with Martha. God as He reveals Himself to us in the scriptures, is very different from what I thought.

God knows what we need far better than we know what we need. After all, He created us. His word instructs us to live differently from the world. Where the world values constant activity, God blesses us when we observe the Sabbath, gathering in worship and partaking in the Lord’s Supper. Where the world measures us by our productivity, God invites us to be still, to know Him as God. (Psalm 46:10) When we receive His gifts of rest and stillness, we’re on an amazing journey WITH HIM! We find God to be endlessly patient, gently persistent and overflowing with love for us. He wants us to know Him! Embrace His rest with thanksgiving. Revel in stillness before Him. Thus, God blesses us and, in turn, others through us.

Scriptures

Genesis 2:2 – And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.

Psalm 46:10a – Be still and know that I am God.

Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Luke 10:38-42 – Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “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.”

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Image: original pastel and color pencil drawing “Rest and Be Still” by Robin Lybeck