Regardless of the assessment taken, I am continuously reminded that I am a ‘doer’.
I thrive on checking items off a list, clearing out my inbox, and, yes, I will add items to a list that have already been done just to check them off.
I grew up helping my parents run a small church. We were the first in, the last to leave, and always had things to do ‘for the Lord’. It never occurred to me until the last decade or so of my own life that saying ‘no’ to something inside the walls of the church could be a good decision or that saying ‘yes’ to something outside of the walls of the church could be a ‘God thing’.
The Martha in All of Us
The story Luke records of Jesus visiting the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus is such a powerful reminder for us Task Masters. As you likely recall, Jesus is sitting in their home, relaxing, while Martha runs around like a madwoman, getting all the food and the house ready.
Martha’s head is spinning with her lists: she has bread to finish baking, a floor that needs sweeping, a table that isn’t going to set itself. While she is running from task to task, new items she forgot about are popping into her head: the candles need to come out of the drawer, she forgot the wine, there is still a sleeping mat out (not hers, of course).
She then becomes exasperated with her “bum of a sister” who is just sitting with Jesus, doing nothing!
Have you been there?
She likely overheard pieces of Jesus and Mary’s conversation. She hears Mary giggle and rolls her eyes. Mary says something about how busy it has been this week and Martha’s head is about to explode. Martha is a pressure cooker and finally (after likely many words under her breath) tells Jesus to look around and tell Mary to do something!
“Martha, Martha”, the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 NIV)
The gospel story ends there. Did Martha drop what she was doing and sit with them? Did she apologize and hug her sister? Did she go back to what she was doing but with a better attitude? We are left to wonder, as we so often are in Scripture.
It Was Never About the Chores
Martha got it wrong in this moment. It wasn’t that she was working hard. It was her attitude. She wasn’t preparing the space for Jesus, who had few expectations in this regard. She was preparing her space and table the way we so often do today – in the light of ridiculous expectations. The picture-perfect version of our home, dinner, children – the curated view we have become so accustomed to in our current culture. She wanted everything to be perfect.
Chores need to be done – there is no question about that. We need to clean our homes, go grocery shopping, do laundry, do dishes, mow the lawn. When we do them with joy and gratitude, while speaking with Jesus, they become acts of worship.
When we are spinning around in anxiety and bitterness, throwing side eyes at our spouse and kids for not helping us and instead having a conversation together, we too can imagine Jesus shaking his head, lovingly saying our name.
Martha’s Faith Was Strong
Martha often gets a bad rap for this interaction, and she was wrong of course. If we fast-forward and flip to chapter 11 of John, we see a different side of her faith. Jesus receives word that his friend Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha, is sick. He gets to Bethany four days too late – Lazarus is in a tomb.
When he gets close, it is Martha who goes out to greet him, and, as John points out, Mary stays home. In verse 22, Martha states to Jesus, “I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” She had a strong faith and knew Jesus as Lord, too.
Worship Through the Work
The Church needs the doers, the taskmasters, the ones who thrive on checking things off a list. We just need to remember to worship through our to-do lists, ask for help, and stop stressing over perfect-looking homes and lives. Our Martha Stewart meals and Joanne Gaines kitchens will not make the Insta-reel in Heaven. Our dependence and reliance on Jesus will though.
