Lessons from Mary in my Martha World
We are currently nearing the end of October, and before I know it, the rush of the holiday season will take over and send me into a frenzy of cleaning, hosting, buying, celebrating, and then starting the cycle over for the next looming holiday.
So many events are packed into the two short months between the end of October and the end of December, and it can be difficult to actually enjoy that time with my family because I’m so focused on all of the things that I have to do.
During the busy holiday season, it’s easy to get distracted from the things that actually matter to my life – time with my family and time with Christ.
I’m currently in the middle of a Bible study on the Book of John, and I came across the story of Mary anointing Jesus at Bethany. This was not the first time I’ve read/heard this story, but during this reading, I learned some lessons from Mary in my Martha world.
This post may contain affiliate links. Learn more here.
Lessons from Mary in my Martha World
John 12:1-8
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. 3 Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?” 6 He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. 8 For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me.”
This story is also shared in Luke 10:38-42.
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
With so much to accomplish, especially when hosting large gatherings, I tend to err on the side of Martha. I get so wrapped up in the preparations, and I get annoyed when others are enjoying their time and not helping me. I sympathize with Martha here. She opened her home to Jesus and the disciples, she feels overwhelmed by the preparations, and instead of helping her, Mary spends her time with Jesus.
I’m sure that Martha was jealous because she also wanted to spend time with Jesus, but she felt obligated to prepare the meal for her visitors, and I’m sure she felt things would go faster if Mary helped her.
I’m not going to pretend that I think Martha is in the wrong here, because I am a practical person, and my guess is the family and the guests were expecting a meal, and the duty fell onto Martha. It is her home, and I’m sure that she wanted her guests to enjoy their time visiting.
While Martha was dutifully serving her guests, I don’t think she handled the situation well. Obviously, I don’t live in that time, so I don’t know what sort of preparations were necessary to get a meal on the table. I’m going to guess that a meal took a lot longer to prepare than it does today, so rather than speak to what Martha was working on, I’m going to share the lessons I can apply from Mary in my Martha world.
Ask for help.
I think one of the errors that Martha made was going to Jesus rather than Mary. Martha was essentially “tattling” on Mary and hoping that Jesus would reprimand Mary for not helping. Martha wanted to know that she was in the right and that she was spending her time wisely. Jesus says she wasn’t, and that Mary was the one who actually had her priorities in line. If Martha wanted to spend that same time at Jesus’ feet, she could have asked Mary to come help her finish the preparations so that they could both spend time with Christ.
Simplify the offerings.
If I’m preparing a meal and I’m the only one doing the work, perhaps I could simplify what I’m doing.
I see so many Pinterest-perfect Thanksgiving table settings, with individualized name tags and real linens and shiny place settings and so many forks that I don’t even know what to do with each one. When my table doesn’t look that good, I start to feel poorly about my hosting abilities.
Instead of feeling bad that my table doesn’t look like that, I can instead simplify what I’m offering so I can spend my time on other things. Don’t get me wrong, if that’s your thing and you love to create a beautiful setting, that’s amazing and I’m not asking you to change. What I am saying though is that if I’m spending so much time on those things that I’m missing out on the more important things, then I need to simplify what I’m doing.
My guests will still enjoy their meal, whether they’re assigned a seat or not, and I will be able to enjoy my time as well if I’m not taking on more than I can handle.
Devote my time and resources to what’s most important.
When Mary spends her time at the feet of Jesus, she not only worships him, but she devotes her resources to him as well. She uses an entire bottle of expensive perfume to anoint Jesus’ feet. Judas Iscariot reprimands her for wasting so much money, but Jesus explains that Mary is spending her time and resources in the exact right place at that time.
When I’m busy in holiday mode, I need to slow down and assess whether I’m spending my time and resources on what is truly important at that time. If the answer is no, then I need to reassess and change my priorities.
Dear God, so many times I spend so much time focusing on the tasks at hand that I forget to turn my eyes to you and what’s actually most important in my life.
There are many lessons from Mary in my Martha world that I can apply to my life, and I pray that as I go through this busy holiday season, I remember to fix my eyes on you. I pray to prioritize my to-do list in a way that honors you, and I pray for discernment to know what’s most important at each moment so I can spend my time in the best way possible. In Jesus’ name, amen.
I am definitely more of a Martha, but there are so many lessons from Mary in my Martha world that I can apply to my life. During this holiday season, I pray that I will better prioritize my time to spend both my time and resources on the things that are most important. I pray the same for you.
Blessings Friend.
Want to remember the prayers you’ve had and the answers you’ve received? Sign up below to receive the free prayer journal. You’ll also get access to my library, full of free printable and cut files. Sign up below!
