Busy but not Blessed

Text: Luke 10:38-42
(38) Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
(39) ”And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
(40) ”But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
(41) ”And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
(42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Think About It!

I was sitting in my office several years ago and meditating on the Scriptures. As I did, the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart concerning my communion with the Lord. As with many pastors and preachers, my schedule is full of ministry. With visitation, sermon preparation, teaching and other ministry duties, I am fully engaged in ministry. However, it seems that with all of my trying to refresh others, the spiritual well from which I drank had become dry. I had become guilty of what I call the “Martha Syndrome.”

In Luke 10:38-42, we see the involvement of Martha in serving Christ. She is busy in the kitchen preparing dinner for the Lord. This is an honorable ambition. It is noble to desire to meet the physical needs of the honored guest in her home. Yet, it was this very service that made her resentful of her sister. Her service for Christ did not produce a closeness to Christ. Rather, it made her doubtful of Christ.

Notice her words, “Lord, dost thou not care…?” What a question to pose to the Lord! The problem was not with Christ, but with Martha.

We also see that her service for Christ did not help her to see herself as she was. Rather, it made her more self-centered. She asked the Lord if He cared that “my sister have left me to serve alone.” Notice “me” and “alone.” It is now apparent that her service was for the sake of Martha and not for Christ.

The Holy Spirit seemed to pose to me the question, “Are you serving for Christ’s sake or yours?” He then seemed to draw my attention to a very small book on my shelf in the office. I have had this book for many years and never read its pages. When it was given to me it seemed like just another devotional book. Yet, it seemed that I was now being drawn to pull it from its place on the shelf and to begin reading it. I looked at it and saw it is only eighty-four pages. It is a small hardback book that was printed as an eleventh reprint in 1935. I thought to myself, “I am a fast reader, I will read in over the next hour and be done with it.”

Yet, that morning devotional grabbed my attention in a fresh way. The book…Union and Communion by J. Hudson Taylor. It is more than a devotional book, it is a book of Taylor’s examination of the Song of Solomon. As I opened my Bible to the Song of Solomon and begin to read Taylor’s insights into this lovely book, my soul was touched. My heart became convicted of my loss of union and communion. Yes, I have been busy for the Lord, but my communion with Him had been neglected.

It is sad that even preachers need to be reminded of this basic truth. Like Martha, she had to be reminded that the “needful” and “good” part is found in sitting at the feet of Jesus (Lk. 10:42).