Luke 10:38-42
38As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"
41"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
Introduction
A story was told of a traveller in the desert.
One day while he was thirsty and tired, he found a spring. The water from the spring was so fresh, he decided to bring some back to his king.
After drinking and quenching his thirst, he filled his jars with the spring water and brought it back to honour the king.
The king was very happy and honoured the man with great praises.
Those who were at the king’s court were curious and wondered what kind of water it was that pleased the king.
With permission, one by one they had a sip of the water and found it to be ordinary and it was beginning to lose its quality because the man had travelled a long distance.
They wonder why, instead of punishing him, the king honoured the man.
The king explained, “Though the water is ordinary and is losing its quality, I praised him because of his faithfulness. He had my heart at all time, even when he was travelling in the desert. I praised him not because of what he had done but because of his good character.”
The Gospel reading for today tells us about the story of Martha and Mary.
Martha was busy preparing meals for Jesus and his disciples while Mary sat down to listen to the Lord.
Martha felt unfair and complained to the Lord, asking him to order Mary to help her in the kitchen.
In return, Jesus praised Mary for her better choice of listening to the master’s words.
1. The background
Jesus and his disciples were on their way to Jerusalem.
When they reached Bethany, a tiny town about 3 km away from Jerusalem, Martha and Mary welcomed them into their home.
Do you remember the parable of the Good Samaritan we heard last Sunday?
A lawyer came to enquire about the way to eternal life.
Jesus’ answer was simple.
And that was to 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'(Luke 10:27)
Of course we know that, without Christ in our hearts, we will never be able to fulfil these criterions.
With our human limitation, we will not able to love God whole heartedly.
With our self-indulged human nature, we will not able to love our neighbour as our self.
Here comes a real example of the struggles in loving God and neighbour.
Now, when Martha and Mary found out that the Lord is coming, they responded differently.
Mary decided to listen to the Master’s sermon while Martha decided to give the Master and his followers a feast, not necessary a big one as there is no indication of that kind.
However, to prepare food for at least 16 people is never an easy task.
The 16 people included Jesus, his 12 disciples, Mary, Lazarus and Martha herself (John 11:1)
That’s why Martha murmured against Mary for not rendering her help.
2. Martha’s problem
What’s wrong with Martha?
Was she wrong because she wanted to serve the crowd with a meal?
I don’t think so.
At least to herself, she made a good choice by deciding to serve the crowd with a meal after days of travelling.
That choice of her own should not be taken away, just as Mary’s choice should not be taken away.
There are two possible problems to Martha’s decision:
One, she could have prepared too much and complicated things.
Jesus never asked for big feast from the people though he was invited to few: one occasion at Cana, a wedding feast (John 2); the other occasion by Simon a rich ruler (Luke 7).
Remember what Jesus said to those who wanted to follow him?
"Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." (Luke 9:58)
Martha was not sensitive to Christ’s mission.
She wanted to have feast, but Christ was to die on the cross before the real Feast at the heaven was to occur.
The OT reading (Amos 8:1-12) today warns us of what will occur at the end time.
There will be dead bodies everywhere;
There will be unlawfulness;
There will be mourning and groans;
There will be famines and thirsts….
Amos 8:11"The days are coming," declares the Sovereign LORD, "when I will send a famine through the land— not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the LORD.
And that was why Jesus praised Mary for she chose the best portions of all: listening to Christ’s teachings.
Martha’s second problem was her jealousy against Mary who did nothing but listened to the Master’s sermon.
Martha should have faithfully served the Lord with food without complains.
That was her devotion from the very beginning.
No one forced her to cook.
In fact, she should be happy to serve in that manner as not everyone knows how to serve especially for a big crowd.
Some people are capable to cook for hundreds while some others would starve to death without a mum or a wife to cook for them.
Martha needs to learn to serve faithfully without murmuring.
The second reading (Col 1:15-29) talks about Paul’s faithfulness in serving God.
Even though he faced persecutions and hardships, Paul continued to be faithful to the Gospel of Christ.
As he said in 1 Cor 4:2, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
Remember what the Master said in the parable of the talents?
'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' (Matt 25:21)
3. What are the lessons?
Don’t misunderstand the words of the Lord.
Jesus rebuked Martha not because her busyness in preparing food.
This story does not imply that serving food and other similar chores are not important.
In contrary, serving each other had a very important role in early church history.
As Acts 2:42 recorded, ‘They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’
Breaking of bread is believed to be the fellowship meal celebrated together with the Lord’s Supper during the 1st Century of Christian Church history.
Again, Acts 6:1 (In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Grecian Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. ) indicates the common practice of sharing meals together.
The 2 major lessons we can learn from the story of Martha and Mary are:
1. Be faithful and devoted in whatever you do for the Lord. Be it a small or a big task, do it as if doing it for the Lord.
Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
2. Do not complain. Do not compare.
Romans 12:3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.
Romans 14:12-13 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.
Conclusion
So, think it over by yourself: how would you like to serve the Lord?
Mary chose to listen to God’s word, and at the same time I believe she was acting on God’s words.
James 1:22 “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Martha chose to cook, but unfortunately with murmuring.
Stephen first chose to distribute food and later shifted to preach the word and became the first martyr.
Lydia was converted to Christ during Paul’s visit. As a business lady, she chose to provide for God’s servants and at the same time led in many ministries.
What is your choice?
What is your attitude?
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