by Dot Bowen, Speaker and the Founder of Cup of Joy
I struggle daily with choosing between what I need to do and what I should do, between the urgent and best. Maybe you feel the same at times. What do you do when you feel like life—or others—are controlling you and you are not doing what your heart wants to do? Thankfully, there is an answer in Scripture.
Jesus loved Mary and Martha, two sisters who lived in Bethany, and their brother Lazarus. Because Bethany is a few miles from Jerusalem, their home was a frequent stop for Jesus. Perhaps you can imagine everything that needed to get done to make Jesus feel loved and welcomed. Martha was the doer in the family while Mary was a little more laid back. This meant that when Jesus came to visit, she was consumed with what was urgent rather than what was best.
When Martha was in the kitchen getting everything ready, Mary was enjoying Jesus’ company. Can you imagine Martha’s frustration? I don’t know exactly what Martha was thinking, but based on her words to Jesus, I’d say she was not happy! Maybe she was thinking, If Mary would help me I could sit at the feet of Jesus too! Finally, after one trip too many to the kitchen, Martha blurted out something that she probably wished she could take back. Her words showed that she had allowed the urgent to take control of the best. She said to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40). Oh dear—Martha not only questioned Jesus’ concern for her, but she allowed her concern for the urgent to push her to tell Jesus what to do!
I love Jesus’ reply. “Martha, Martha,” he said. (Maybe He had to say her name twice to get her to slow down long enough to gain her attention). He didn’t say, “Martha, STOP serving me!” but instead said, “Why are you worried and upset about so many things?” Jesus wanted her not concern herself with making everything perfect but to enjoy Him instead.
Do you relate to Martha? Can you imagine Jesus sitting in your kitchen but finding yourself so busy cooking that you fail to speak to Him? We often find ourselves so busy that we don’t take time to sit at His feet in prayer. We allow the urgent to take over the best.
Several years ago my view of prayer was challenged and I wrestled with what I really believe about prayer. Do I truly believe that I am entering into the presence of God when I pray? If I do truly believe I enter into the presence of God when I lift up my voice to Him, would it be difficult to slow down to communicate with Him?
Have you ever gotten frustrated while waiting on God to act? As a result, have you ever tried to tell Him what to do? When you allow what’s urgent to take over your daily life, you may find your prayer life consumed with telling Jesus to change your situation or to bring you help rather than enjoying Him. And when there is not an immediate response you may find yourself asking, “Jesus, don’t you care?”
Before we become frustrated and begin telling Jesus what to do, we need to slow down and see if He is waiting for us to sit at His feet and talk to Him. Jesus is very clear that being with Him is far more important than serving Him—and slowing down to focus on Him will allow you to discern what is urgent and what is best.
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