| “Martha, Martha”, He said. How many | | | | 1. Worried (careful – in the KJ) |
| times have we Stress Junkies been a Martha? | | | | 2. Troubled (bothered – NASB, upset – |
| To set the scene, and for those who may not | | | | NIV) |
| know the story, Martha and Mary were sisters. | | | | 3. About MANY things |
| They had a brother named Lazarus. Now Martha | | | | Picture this, you’ve been killing yourself for |
| and Mary have a house in Bethany near | | | | days, everyone is in YOUR house, eating YOUR |
| Jerusalem, and their brother has invited some | | | | food, and drinking YOUR wine. This party is all |
| friends over for dinner. One of the friends is an | | | | about Jesus, and here he is, he’s putting YOU |
| important guy, a real man of the hour back then | | | | on the carpet for making sure everything is |
| – his name is Jesus. He comes from a small | | | | perfect? And in front of EVERYONE – his |
| town, his father was just a carpenter, his mother | | | | friends, your friends, your sister! WOW! |
| got pregnant before she was married, but this | | | | And get this part, more than likely Jesus is not |
| man has made a name for himself. Anyone | | | | limiting his observation to just this day and time. |
| who’s anyone wants to talk to him, listen to | | | | He says “many things”. He’s knows |
| him, touch him, or be touched by him. If Today in | | | | Martha has a bigger problem. One that leaves her |
| Hollywood was on TV back then, he’d have | | | | helplessly devoted to cooking, cleaning, serving, |
| the whole show every night! | | | | worrying, hurrying, and troubled. Martha, my dear |
| So Martha and Mary are having company…I | | | | friends, was a Stress Junkie! Martha could very |
| mean to say, a PARTY. Because Jesus always | | | | well be the very first recorded Stress Junkie, |
| travels with his twelve closest friends, so that | | | | proving that we are not the product of a fast |
| makes sixteen for dinner. Plus, Martha and Mary | | | | society. We are a product of ourselves, our |
| just HAVE TO invite some of their friends and | | | | personality, our decisions; for if Martha, who lived |
| neighbors just so everyone will see who they rub | | | | two thousand years ago, was Type A, then |
| elbows with. | | | | there’s no blaming society for our problem. |
| So much to do, so much to do! Big party to plan, | | | | We all know the symptoms. I mean, when was |
| prep and cook for. In those days, you | | | | the last time that you sat and enjoyed a party at |
| couldn’t just order out or call the caterers; | | | | your house? Was there EVER a time? When was |
| you had to do it all. The term potluck supper | | | | the last time you had a party or even guests for |
| wasn't even coined yet! Water didn't come into | | | | dinner that you didn’t pull out ALL your |
| the house, bread wasn't sold at the market. In | | | | cookbooks to find something “special” to |
| fact, the grain had to be ground for the flour, the | | | | make? Ever? About that housekeeping, do you |
| water had to be carried from the well, and the | | | | really think people are checking the corners, the |
| oven ran on wood and grasses that the women | | | | baseboards, and inside the cabinets for dirt when |
| gathered. As for housekeeping, there were no | | | | they're at your house? I know what you're |
| companies like Merry Maid or Molly Maid. There | | | | thinking...no, they don't check. And the reason |
| was just Martha Maid and Mary Maid. | | | | they don't check is because they KNOW when |
| Now for those of you who don’t know Jesus | | | | they come to my house, it's clean. Believe me, |
| personally, imagine the likes of Brad Pitt, Mother | | | | guests may not notice what I do to prepare, but |
| Teresa, Ronald Regan and Billy Graham ALL | | | | sure as hell, they'd notice if I DIDN'T do |
| coming to your house at the same time - and still | | | | something. |
| you haven’t even scratched the surface of | | | | I believe that was Martha's dilemma as well. She |
| this man Jesus. | | | | really really wanted to hang out with Jesus and |
| To Stress Junkies like us, we know the routine | | | | the guests like her sister. In Martha's mind, if Mary |
| for Martha. As soon as she learned that Jesus | | | | had helped her, then maybe she'd have had the |
| was coming, she went into high gear planning the | | | | time to sit down and relax. Maybe so...but based |
| menu, scrubbing, mopping, dusting, tidying. Of | | | | on Jesus' take on her situation, probably wouldn't |
| course, there are invitations to send, shopping to | | | | matter. Mary's help would just free Martha's time |
| do, food to prepare…the list seemingly endless. | | | | to go handle some other little detail. |
| And why not, she’s the older sister, the | | | | So, what do we do with Martha? What do we do |
| practical one, the responsible one. It’s what | | | | with ourselves? Should we be more like Mary? |
| she does. | | | | Can we be? There's no doubt that if you're |
| The big day arrives, and we can picture the | | | | reading this, you're the practical sister. You're the |
| house…it’s clean, fresh and orderly with | | | | one who's easily distracted by many things that in |
| sunlight streaming through the windows. | | | | your mind, HAVE to get done. Everyday tasks, |
| There’s bowls of snack food, fruit and | | | | household chores, work, kids, school, husband, |
| flowers out and about, cool drinks and the smell | | | | church, PTA, soccer games, birthday parties, and |
| of delicious foods coming from the kitchen. | | | | so on and so on and so on...These things have to |
| Guests begin to arrive and who’s there to | | | | get done, right? And if not by you, then...frankly, |
| greet them? Little sister, Mary – the one | | | | by whom? |
| who’s chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet and | | | | The answer is simpler said, than achieved. |
| listen. The one who most likely sits among the | | | | Remember when you were a kid and you |
| guests at all the parties. Sure, she did a little prep | | | | wanted to learn how to ride without training |
| work this morning…at her sister Martha’s | | | | wheels? What skill did you need to master? You |
| insistence. But now, the party has begun, and | | | | also need it to roller skate, ice skate, walk a tight |
| she’s choosing the “one thing”, the | | | | rope, actually, you need it just to stand up. It's |
| “good thing” as Jesus later puts it. | | | | called BALANCE. We Stress Junkies need to learn |
| Martha’s in the kitchen. She slaves away over | | | | how to strike a balance between what needs to |
| hot pots in a hot room. She sets the table, brings | | | | get done, and what HAS to be done. We need to |
| out trays of food, refills glasses…Mary sits at | | | | take a few minutes out of each day to just |
| the feet of the guest of honor, listening, laughing. | | | | stand still. That's right STAND STILL and pause. |
| She’s enjoying the time. Martha, well, she | | | | We need to take a moment or two out of every |
| finally loses it. She complains to Jesus that Mary | | | | day to reflect on what's really important. That's all |
| should come and help her. | | | | Jesus was saying to Martha. He wasn't bashing |
| Jesus responds, “Martha, Martha, you are | | | | her for serving them, he was advising her to set |
| worried and troubled about many things…” - | | | | priorities and take the needed time out to enjoy |
| Luke 10:41 NKJ | | | | "one good thing", before her time was past. |
| So she is: | | | | |