A Little Whine…
Luke 10:38-42 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
It happens! Even in ministry! With the best of intentions, we take on more than we can handle then look for someone to HELP, without humbly asking for help (definitely not confessing or repenting), we move straight to the Ministry Meltdown when “someone” doesn’t JUMP to our NEED.
Deep down we know it’s no one’s fault but our own. It’s just that… I… I want to be THE woman. You know THE one… planner – manager – ministry chief… THE know it all – does all – best at everything WOMAN!
Then I look around and see Mary… MY ungrateful – lazy – good for nothing SISTER… NOT PLAYING my game by my rules AND enjoying herself.
OMG… the nerve!
Time for MINISTRY MELTDOWN – also known as a “Pity-Party”!
In this particular ministry moment, I get to play (because my name is MARY) the “innocent” sister. I can even pretend that I did not see, hear or know my sister was suffering… mmmmm…
Mary…”Martha, who? When Jesus walked in, I was UNDONE! Looking back on the moment, had it been anyone else with any other message, I DEFINITELY would have played THE game, with my usual, SWEET little sister self!”
Oh come on… you all have PLAYED! Both parts! Maybe even both parts at one time!
We’ve all dressed up with our costumes and masks in order to get a bag full of candy! Maybe some of us still do…
Whether it be the role of Martha, the organizer-in-chief… or the sweet sweet helpmeet, Mary. We have indeed played! And I bet, every one of us, at one time or another, in public or in private, have had the MINISTRY MELTDOWN just like Martha.
Have you ever noticed WHEN we “tell” God we might be having a problem?
Not when we are bouncing along, high on our PLAN to serve the Master… a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home… Hospitality! One of my finest gifts!
I dare say we, like Martha, give very little thought to our ability to single-handedly pull off whatever “inspired” event enters our minds… there is definitely no thought of asking the little sister (or God?) for planning advice.
It is only when we get in the weeds… Martha was distracted with all her preparations… that we begin to look for help (and that does not include help CHANGING my plan!).
Even now, with the realization that there is too much to do and not enough time to do it, we have not given up on our dream to shine. THIS IS WHEN we now point out to God the problem AND the solution… she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.”
Yep, passive/aggressive manipulation of the truth ALWAYS works… well not always – but sometimes… maybe never works – BUT IT FEELS RIGHTEOUS!
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things… like what OTHERS are doing… like being the BEST… like the jealous coveting of CENTER STAGE.
I admit it… more times than I care to confess… I’m more Martha than I am Mary…
When I look around at my brothers and sisters, I see their light shine and I get… jealous! Here I am, working tirelessly and relentlessly and it all comes so EASY for them! They ALWAYS get to do the good stuff!
Don’t tell me jealousy is a sin… I have even found myself jealous of those who are never jealous! I don’t want to just BE like that – I want them to NOT BE like that!
Jealousy (at least mankind’s form of it) is a sin!
The solution… only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
The solution to sin and the temptation that sends us into its spiral?
One thing…
Turn Your eyes on Jesus… Look full in His wonderful face…
Are you a Martha or a Mary?
A tip for the party planner and party goer…
Don’t have wine WHINE at your pity-party!
Have Jesus…
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible