Carol J German

In my early years of my faith, you could have called me Martha. I responded to what was right in front of me vying for my attention. While Jesus was a part of me, I did not give Him all of me. I let my wants and desires dictate my actions each day rather than following the Holy Spirit’s leading.

Thankfully, God has taken my Martha-style thinking and transformed me into Mary. Mary understood what was important in life. She lived with the right priority. Did you notice how priority is singular? Jesus became her priority. When Jesus becomes the most important thing in your life, everything changes.

“Be a Mary before you become a Martha. Sit at His feet, then rise to serve. The order changes everything.” (by Mike Signorelli)

In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus reveals how He is priority when it comes to living life. Martha opened her home for Jesus and His disciples. She wanted to serve them a meal. The busyness of preparing the meal became her focus. Her sister, Mary, saw things differently. She sat at Jesus’ feet listening to what He said. “But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing.” Martha asked Jesus, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

While Martha’s heart was in the right place by offering to feed her guests, she turned an easy gesture into a bigger ordeal. She could have served grapes, figs and nuts, then sit down to listen. But she chose to make a big meal that took her away from Jesus. Then, she complained that her sister is being lazy.

Martha was missing what was right in front of her. She got distracted and preoccupied with what she thought was important in the moment. What distracts you? I can tell you for me it’s motherhood. I will drop anything and everything for my children and grandsons. Now that my son and daughter are grown and live far away, any chance I get to see them becomes top priority.

For my husband, it is his job. He loves to work and he’s currently trying to find his purpose after God told him to retire last summer. The easy answer is to return to Corporate America, get another job. Keep doing what you have come to know, what is familiar and comfortable, but is it where God wants you to be?

I have a feeling that Martha’s identity was hospitality. When it was Jesus who was coming over, she was going to make it spectacular. IT WAS JESUS. I would fall into that same trap too. If Jesus was coming to my house, I would be worn out from all the cleaning before He even arrived! Then I would be busy in the kitchen, weary and frustrated, for I would want everything perfect.

That was me in my early years when my faith was just budding out. Then Jesus kept pursuing me, and pursuing me, and pursuing me. He wouldn’t let up, and I am ever so thankful. God was helping me to become like Mary. When he pursued, I listened. And when I listened, Jesus taught me His Word. And in His Word, He changed me.

I have become like Mary.

I can tell you from the last 36 years, I understand Jesus’ response to Martha, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”⁴² Jesus has to remind me, “Carol, trust Me. Let me guide you daily. I will show you what is important. Keep letting go of the non-essentials that distract you. Yes, even the good things. I will always lead you to the best things.” Honestly, He has never failed me yet.

The Apostle Paul was a man that let Jesus become his priority. How did he go from a fanatic who hated Jesus and His followers to one who became sold-out for the Gospel? In Acts 9, you read about his transformation. After Jesus got a hold of Paul, God did not use him in service until he got to know Christ first! It is not recorded in the Bible, but something happened in a three year time span that one would guess, Jesus and Paul became best friends. Jesus revealed Himself to Paul and matured his faith, then God sent him on missionary journeys to spread the Good News of Christ.

What keeps us from walking like Mary (and Pau) is that we remain thinking like Martha. She believed Christ, but she wanted her faith to be about herself too; Jesus + Martha = faith. This isn’t the faith of Christ. God way is Jesus = faith (period). Are you willing to put yourself aside and live in surrendered obedience?

Think about this, “You are not going to find fulfillment in a new location (or anywhere else) if you’re no rooted in Jesus.” (by Juan Martinez) Let God help you to move from Martha-style thinking to a heart like Mary, and see what you will discover at His feet.