My name is Martha. The whole of my Christian existence has been about the business of serving Jesus. Since I was a young child, I constantly have been looking for a place to serve or get more involved. I’ve volunteered on Sunday mornings to pray, read Scripture and be an usher. As I grew older, I worked with kids younger than me. In youth group, I lived for the service projects. As the years went on, I knew God was calling me to be a pastor, so I got busy serving as a leader in our church’s youth group. Eventually, I quit my job so I could give more time to serving Jesus. These days, I’m a full-time youth pastor; and I have the distinct pleasure of serving Jesus as a career. (Oh wait…the Christian word is calling.) It’s awesome, but I’m busy.
I wonder in the midst of my busyness if I’ve missed something. Have I missed something that possibly could change everything about how I view my relationship with God? Where did I learn that the Christian life was about being busy serving Jesus? Well…from other Marthas, of course. These are well-meaning people who love God and desire to bring glory to His name; they recognize there is much work to be done, and they get down to doing that work. Serving Jesus is what’s important right?
Martha has a sister. Her name is Mary, and if you know the story (
Mary chose what’s best. What good is sitting at Jesus’ feet with all this work to be done? If it’s you’re propensity to ask this question, like me, you’re probably a Martha. We are the ones who complain (i.e., take pride in the fact) that we’re the 10 percent doing 90 percent of the work. After all, the church couldn’t function without us, could it? Like Martha, we have falsely convinced ourselves that Jesus needs us to serve Him—that if we don’t keep busy, we will derail the great commission or fear that our church’s doors will close for good. No, Jesus neither needs Martha’s help, nor does He need our help. As Lord, He has everything under control. Don’t get me wrong, there will be time to do work; but first things first: Jesus wants us to sit at His feet, be fully present and experience a very real relationship with Him.
Sadly, I’m convinced many of us in the church find it easier to serve Jesus than to sit alone in our rooms and be fully present at His feet; but that’s what Jesus desires of us…to sit as His feet and enjoy the relationship. While there have been countless people in my life who have taught me how to serve Jesus, I cannot recall anyone who has ushered me to the feet of Jesus and showed me how to enjoy my relationship with Him. This is not to say they didn’t experience their relationship with Jesus as Mary; they just never thought to show me.
Don’t get me wrong; doing the work of Jesus is important. It’s important to serve in the church and serve our community and world; but before we can do that, we first have to sit at the feet of Jesus and hang on His every word. After that, our service will be a natural overflow of our devotion to Him. Now if sitting at the feet of Jesus sounds too much like a childish act where the kids sit and listen to stories while the adults do the work, you’re right. The Bible says we should approach Jesus like a little child. Jesus addressed this specifically by saying, “I assure you: Whoever does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (
As I’m writing this, I’m recognizing that I truly do desire to be like Mary. Sitting at the feet of Jesus, hanging on His every word, sounds awesome (if not insanely spiritual). I can’t even have a consistent quiet time. I’ve already failed in my New Year’s resolution to follow a Bible reading plan for the entire year. So if you are looking for a 5-step plan to become more like Mary, I don’t have it. For a beginning, I’m simply going to start reading my Bible on the floor as a way of tangibly sitting at the feet of Jesus (while questioning if this might be too literal) because I know I have to start somewhere. One thing I know for sure, and it keeps me up at night: As a youth pastor, I’m responsible for helping to train the young people whom God has put under my care. By example, am I teaching them to be Marthas or Marys? Am I showing them only to serve, or am I showing them how to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ? I’m great at teaching young people how to serve, at giving them something to do; and I’m great at serving with them. However, I’m not great at leading them to the feet of Jesus, because if I’m truly honest, I don’t spend a whole lot of time there. More and more, I’m beginning to realize that if I truly want these students to defy statistics and stick with their faith after high school, then it’s going to take more than just being busy. I need to lead them to the feet of Jesus. I need to teach them to be more Mary-like. I’ve always known that a change needed to be made, but now I see the change needs to start with me.
