Luke 10:38-42
One thing is necessary.
The story of Martha and Mary is, I am sure, a well-known one to many Christians. Our Lord has come to their house, and Martha (which we assume to be the responsible one) welcomes him in. But in her responsibility, Martha is distracted with much serving – she is busy washing dishes and running plates in and out of the kitchen. Her sister Mary, meanwhile, is taking a load off, and sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to his teaching. “Tell her to get to work and help me!” Martha asks him, to which he responds with the words, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.”
It is a helpful reminder that for us as Christians, we can be anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. There are so many things to be anxious and troubled about! Whether we are more focused on our home life, like Martha, or on the problems of society, there is always going to be cause for anxiety and troubled thoughts. But one thing is necessary.
At the end of the day, what are we looking for? Are we looking for a great job, well done, for which we can pat ourselves on the back? Or are we looking for Christ, and to sit at his feet, and to hear what he has to say to us?
I think there is a call to arms to join the quest for humility in this account. We know that our Lord liked to spend time with good company, always going into people’s homes to share a meal and hang out. And he wants to come into the home of our soul, into our hearts, and spend time with us, too. But if we are always busy, trying to “cook up a storm” as it were, trying to put on a good show for this most special of special guests, we can find ourselves looking into the mirror, and not into the face of God.
Jesus does not want to come over so that he can be given a great meal. He wants to come over because he loves us so much that he just wants to hang out. Spending all our time sweeping the floor and running plates misses the point of his visit.
Renovating our soul can lead us into the same problem. Spending so much time trying to make our hearts ready for him misses the point – he is the one who makes our hearts ready. He is the Host, and he is the Meal. Our task is to open the door of a humble and contrite heart, ready to sit at his feet and listen. He will do the rest.
If you are currently feeling like Jesus doesn’t want to come over and visit, that you have to do something to get yourself ready, then consider – are you being a bit like Martha? Are you anxious and troubled about many things? Then sit at the feet of Jesus and listen. He is your Lord and your Saviour, he will make all things well. Put down the tools, stop putting so much work on yourself, and let him do what he wants to do in you. For he wants to; indeed, it his delight to be with you.