Recently I shared about someone in the Bible who is not looked at in the best of ways…
That person didn’t commit a crime, didn’t do harm to another living soul, but is still held up as someone less than perfect.

That person is Martha.

She lived in the same time and place as Jesus.
She was part of a family and did all the normal things that Jewish ladies of her day would do.
She took pride in what she could do for others.

Let’s look at what is written about her.
The passage you are about to read is the most commonly referred to about this lady.

Luke 10:38-42
As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But 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!"
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

The picture would appear that she did wrong.
That she didn’t understand what Jesus was looking for.
It would appear that working hard and serving Jesus was not what he wanted...
That worshipping at his feet is all that matters.

Later we can read that Martha’s brother was sick and dying. (John : Chapter 11)
You will not read that Mary, the more ‘spiritual one’ went to Jesus asking for help! It was Martha.
Martha told Jesus “I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask”
She demonstrated an amazing faith for someone supposedly second class because she was always busy.

Martha was never just serving.
Making meals, looking after Jesus and his disciples needs were not a job to her. It was actually her way of
worship. It was her way of expressing her feelings towards her Saviour.
Martha always took care of things, so that people like Mary could have the opportunity to sit at Jesus feet.

For me serving at church has never been about a Job!It has always been about serving Jesus. It has always be part of my
expression of worship.
When there have been times time I haven’t served, I have felt
very disconnected from what is happening.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus is the best thing to do...just not the only thing to do!
The Bible encourages us to worship God with what we do, not what we don’t do...

Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many

Ephesians 6:7
Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men