“Now as they were traveling along, (Jesus) 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 come 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…'”
Luke 10v38-42
I’ll be the first to admit it. I have a hard time being. I’m quick to do, slow to just be present.
That’s true for so many of us, isn’t it? So often we are quick to do, quick to act, quick to stay busy.
Just being present is hard.
We find it hard to sit still, and we think that the way we show we are a “good Christian” or love Jesus is by doing. You know the stuff… serving people, volunteering at church, helping out at the local rescue mission, raising money for non-profits, giving our time and skills to help people. Those are good things, absolutely! But when those become our priority, they’re actually not good.
In our doing, it seems we’ve forgotten it’s all about BEING. It’s all about relationship, FRIENDSHIP, with Jesus.
He loves that you want to serve Him, but He loves you just being with Him even more.
Martha was quick to work for and serve Jesus. But he was looking for what Mary gave, and that was her attention, her undivided time to just sit and spend time with Him.
It’s so hard to remember, I know, but we don’t WORK for love.
He loves us just as we are.
He loves us because He loves us.
He loves us because we’re His kids.
NOT because of what we do for Him.
It’s great that you sacrifice time and energy to serve the Lord. But may it NEVER be at the cost of your intimacy and friendship with Him.
ANY SERVICE TO HIM FLOWS FROM OUR INTIMACY WITH HIM.
It ALL flows from there.
We need to get first things first.
If you have kids, or if you are a kid, you know that love for a child is not dependent on what they can do for you (at least in a healthy relationship). A parent loves their child simply because they’re theirs.
Work and doing should never come first.
Affection, intimacy, friendship is what He really cares about. He wants to have RELATIONSHIP with us.
Maybe you’re consumed in all the things you’re doing for Him, good things, but still things, all the busyness, all the ways you’re serving.
Maybe it’s time to let those go for a season and dive into what’s REALLY the number one thing.
He doesn’t want your service so much as He wants YOU.
He wants to be with YOU.
Just take a minute and lay everything down. Put the pens and papers and lists aside. Take a deep breath and just ask Him “Father is there anything you want me to give up? Are there things that are good, but are keeping me from YOU, my first priority?”
Just listen to what He has to say. Maybe jot down the first things that come to mind, things He’s reminding you of, things He may be speaking to your heart.
His voice isn’t harsh or rebuking or condemning.
His voice is loving and gentle. Remember? He’s not mad at you. He just wants to teach us. He SO desires to have relationship, close friendship, with each of us, that he’s willing to deal with whatever’s in the way so we can get there.
This will be one of the most profound truths to hold on to.
He wants YOU, as you are, without all the doing.
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