"She came to Jesus and said "Lord, doesn't it seem unfair?" (Luke 10:40 NLT)
Assessing fairness will derail us every time. We’ll become distracted from our own obedience as we consider the case of others. We’ll become discontented with our condition. Dismay will build up in our heart. None of these commiserations grow our love for Jesus or our Kingdom service. Every internal shout of “Unfair!” is a flaming arrow launched into our frame from the enemy, designed to tug us off mission.
Martha could have been happy serving the Savior through attentive meal prep. I think of Brother Lawrence’s joy in the monastic kitchen: even the most mundane tasks take on meaning when they are performed as worship. Additionally, Martha could have scaled back, she could have reduced the feast to finger foods, so she, too, could sit at the table and enjoy the teaching. Still another option: Martha could have admired her sister’s attentiveness and asked for notes after the fact. Instead, Martha grumbled internally and built a case until she erupted.
As an Enneagram Two myself, Martha’s condition is all-too familiar. I’m going to serve in the kitchen until every belly is full and each dish is washed. But when I do, I need to take ownership of my choices and reign in my attitude. It’s easy to blame others for our decision to be of service, but it isn’t equitable. We can make ourselves out to be martyrs, but we forget that we volunteered for the tasks.
Marthas prevent meltdowns by keeping close tabs their soul condition. They don’t skip out on Jesus to serve others, they rearrange their meals with Him. I suspect that Jesus had availed Himself to Martha on many occasions, but Martha had to choose prioritize her time in His presence – as we all need to. Jesus pointed out; Mary had chosen what was better but Martha had the very same sort of opportunity.
As servant leaders, it is critical that we don’t squeeze out our Jesus-time in the name of Kingdom service. It is not an either/or. Sit or serve. It’s both: sit and serve. Our service is fueled and purified by our time at the Savior’s feet. If it isn’t, we wind up tending to the enemy’s fires: distracted, discontent or dissatisfied. We can extinguish his arrows immediately when we’ve tended to our souls first. Service must come after devotion, or it will certainly be done with an inflammatory heart.
"Serve the Lord with gladness;" (Psalm 100:2 NASB1995)
Lord, please help us recognize the onslaught of the enemy and extinguish his arrows. May we prioritize our time in Your presence above and before all else. Just as Martha possessed opportunity to meet with You privately, so do we. You have graciously availed Yourself to us. Forgive us for the times we rush past or hurry through. Help us to prioritize the conversations that heal our hearts and guard us against enemy fire. Free us up to happily serve You and be glad about our giftings. Amen.