2 Timothy 3:16,17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

The account of Mary & Martha is familiar to most of us. I have heard it since I was a child. This morning the Lord brought it to my mind and opened it up in a way I had never seen it.

Mary and Martha are types, and each one of us fall into one or the other of these types. We are either a Mary or a Martha. Since childhood I, along with many of you, have heard preachers use this account. I must confess that because of the accumulated teaching I received of men, I never really considered this a very important passage. If anything I went with the general assumption that we of course were sitting at Jesus feet and hearing him, without comprehending the difference this act would make in my own personal life. The truth of the matter is... most of us are really Martha's that only think we are Mary's. Let's compare what the Word really says with how we have learned to interpret it.

In verse 38, we see that Jesus and his disciples entered a certain village and Martha received them into her house. To receive them into her house means that she opened her dwelling place and entertained them hospitably. Many today are doing this same thing. We open the door of our heart, we welcome Jesus in, wanting Him to be comfortable.

We seldom consider that we might become uncomfortable when we open our heart to the Lord. We seldom consider that His indwelling will completely upset all of our established comfort zones.

In the next verse we are introduced to Mary, (39) "and she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word." Mary understood what Jesus was saying. She sat near to Him and listened intently to all that he said, taking it in. Verse 40 goes on,

"But Martha was encumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care (aren't you concerned) that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me."

Another way of saying to be encumbered about with much serving is to drag all around, to be distracted with care with respect to abundant service. She asked Jesus to tell (command) Mary to help (assist) her. This is a snare and pitfall that is far too easy to fall into.

We often get confused between the Lord of the work and the work of the Lord. Martha complained to Jesus that her sister had left her to serve alone. She felt abandoned and forsaken by Mary. How many times do we find ourselves caught up in a work for the Lord, something that we feel is important and needs to be attended to, without realizing that our obsession with the work is distracting us from the reason for the work in the first place?

Look at how Jesus responded to Martha. Verses 41, 42 "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful (anxious) and troubled (disturbed) about many things: But one thing is needful (the primary, profitable requirement): and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Jesus loved both sisters equally. Each one of them had welcomed him into their home, and desired to serve Him. The difference demonstrated in how each one went about their service is the key.

Martha's service was in the natural, physical realm, while Mary's service was in the spiritual. We are often led to think that by much activity and effort we are doing service to God. What we fail to fully comprehend is that all of our activity and work is of no vital importance and will have no major impact unless it is under the direct supervision of God himself. We are so programmed to think and see in terms of the natural world that we often are ignorantly unaware that God is not interested in our programs and works.

God is interested in His plans for the redemption of the world back to Himself. The only way to get with God's plan, to know what He wants of us, is to press into a personal relationship: to sit near Jesus and listen to and comprehend His words. Only those things that are done under the unction and anointing of the Holy Spirit will have a life-changing, lasting impact on lives.

The more we come to understand this, the more we will desire to abandon all activities and involvements that distract us from Jesus. It seems ironic that we could sincerely desire to do something for the Lord, and yet that very desire could be an instrument to separate (distract) us away from the Lord.

In and of ourselves we can do nothing. If we are not seeing the power of God manifest in our works, it is because the works we are doing are not what God wants us to do. We do not know what God wants us to do because we are not walking in close, personal fellowship with Him. We need to get things in their proper order, He is the Head, we are the Body.

There is a vast gulf, an enormous difference, between knowing and assuming spiritual things. Like many others, my past experience has been filled with more assumption than secure knowledge. As long as we remain a 'Martha,' we will have a measure of God in our lives. But we will never grow to full maturity as a Martha. We will never find and enter that place of rest that is offered to those who believe. We will continue to be anxious and disturbed about all the work that needs to be done.

It is not enough just to be hospitable to Jesus.

It is not enough to do the work of the Lord in our own strength.

We need to learn to sit at Jesus feet.

We need to have our spiritual ears opened to hear and comprehend what Jesus is saying.

Who of us really want to be off in the kitchen working on a meal of our own making, when we could be feasting on heavenly manna from the Lord Himself? Be very careful in the assumptions you make. Even spiritual dullards are sharp enough to figure out that Martha made the wrong choice. Yet in reality how many of us have done otherwise?

I have never heard a preacher, when using this text that did not subtly infer that compliance with the message here was accomplished by acceptance of Jesus. Many in leadership positions today would be alarmed if their followers took this lesson to heart and withdrew from the programs and activities created to keep them busily involved in the work of the Church.

Do not be dismayed if you become a 'Mary,' and find yourself out of step with those you once had fellowship with. You may no longer fit in where you once were comfortable. There may be those who rise up and demand that you do your share, that accuse you of shirking your responsibilities to the work at hand. If this happens in your life then give thanks. You have chosen the better portion.