Priorities

 

Luke 10:38-42

Some might read this story and accuse Luke of “airing dirty laundry,” of telling a story that should have been kept quiet, not put out for public consumption.  On the other hand, this story reminds us that real disciples sometimes have trouble in day to day situations, trouble finding priorities.

We encounter Martha and Mary here and elsewhere in the gospels.  They had a brother Lazarus who apparently lived with them but whether Lazarus was living with them at this time isn’t clear.  In the most memorable story, found in John’s Gospel, Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. 

Luke’s story suggests Martha owned the home.  She may have been a widow who shared a home with the unmarried or widowed Mary and, perhaps, Lazarus.  We simply don’t know as much about the family as we might like.  The old Mormon tradition that Jesus was married to Martha, Mary, and Mary Magdalene has no biblical foundation. 

What we do know from the scriptures suggests that Martha was the older to the two and that she possessed a tendency to be more actively involved in practical matters while Mary appears to have been more retiring.  But the hints of their personality differences are only hints and we should not push them too far.

In any case, when Jesus traveled to their village—Bethany, according to John—he and his team were welcomed by Martha.  As she busied herself with meal preparations, Jesus began teaching a group of his followers.  Among those listening to him was Mary.  With Martha busy in the kitchen and Mary quietly listening in the “living room” the stage was set for the encounter Luke reports. 

At some point, Martha leaves the kitchen, goes to where the impromptu class is going on, and interrupts Jesus to say, “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.” (New Living Translation)

The Cause of Martha's Anger

What might have been the cause of Martha’s anger?

Perhaps it involved simple sibling rivalry.  Don’t imagine I’m importing a modern notion into the Biblical account; there are instances of such rivalry in the Scripture.  We see it with Joseph and his brothers, in the behavior of David’s sons.  To a degree, it goes back to Cain and Abel. 

Even if this wasn’t true sibling rivalry, we can imagine Martha being somewhat resentful.  After all, she had invited Jesus into her home, she was the hostess, and Mary was the one benefiting from his company.  Lest you think I’m laying out the plot of a Hallmark Channel movie, let me say this scenario need not have any romantic overtones.

Of course, Martha might have been embarrassed.  In such a social setting, women were to remain with the women and the men with the men.  The only time the women were to enter the men’s company was when they carried in food or drink.  Put simply, Mary was behaving inappropriately by the standards of the day.

Martha may not have perceived the revolution that was going on in her living room.  She had probably heard the local rabbi talk about how it was a waste of time to try to teach a woman.  They couldn’t grasp the intricacies of theology.  Perhaps, at this time, Martha believed it.

In the late nineteenth century, Mrs. James Himes, a Baptist from the state of Georgia, wrote a letter to praise the Southern Baptist Convention for refusing to allow women messengers, representatives.  She said, “it was the duty of men to see that no heads inferior to their own should be permitted to supervise the vast network of missions.”

If Martha believed she and other women possessed such “inferior” minds, she would have believed Mary could better spend her time helping make their guests comfortable—been more effective doing “women’s work.”

But, as I said, a revolution was going on in that living room.  The phrase Luke uses in describing Mary sitting at Jesus feet is a figure of speech that means she was learning as a disciple would.  Jesus treated women in a new way.  He engaged them in serious discussion of serious topics.  He took them seriously.  Had Martha realized what was happening she might have rejoiced that her sister was there.

While these things may have played a role in Martha's feelings, Luke describes her problem as being "distracted."  She was trying to do so much that she couldn't do anything.  She became frustrated and angry.  Instead of telling herself she might have taken on too much, she laid part of the blame on her sister.

Though she had set out to honor the Lord, she found herself blaming him as well.  Her frustration level was such she failed to see the irony of calling Jesus "Lord" and then questioning his concern for her. 

David Garland suggests Martha was the victim of "well-intentioned overactivity."  She wanted Jesus to feel welcome, in contrast to Simon the Pharisee who treated Jesus with notable contempt.  Whether she had heard of what happened at Simon's house is anyone's guess, but she intended to be the best hostess.

What went wrong was allowing her plans to dislodge what ought to have been her priority--enjoying the time with the Lord. 

Recently a friend told about his wife's activities at Christmas.  They mirrored what she did at Thanksgiving.  With her sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren coming, she attempted to prepare all the special dishes they loved.  Doubtless she had set out to do something nice for them.

But, interestingly, she refused to allow anyone else in the kitchen.  As the long day of cooking wore on she became increasingly irritable and resentful.  She lost sight of the purpose of the family getting together in the first place.  Her grandchildren were coming to think of the holidays as times of stress and tension.

While most commentators refer to women working away in the kitchen as examples of this loss of priority, the problem isn't just found in the kitchen.  Nor is it gender-specific.

We've all known people in our churches who are over-committed.  They simply won't or can't say "no" to some task in the church.  While their service may begin in an earnest desire to show their love for The Lord, it has become something different.  Perhaps it is now a source of self-worth.  Or, perhaps it is simply a joyless duty.

If it is the first, nothing will be allowed to stand in the way of their service to the church--not family, not friends.   Their children grow up knowing that vacations, school activities, and even events like birthdays must take second place to church responsibilities.  Otherwise mom or dad might be considered to be lagging in devotion.

If it is the second, their joyless duty becomes manifest in every action.  Nothing that they do is appealing or inspirational to others.

Most of our churches just let people like this work on, offering an occasional word of commendation.  We rarely offer a word of correction since we don't want to dampen anyone's enthusiasm and we wonder if they are really overactive or we are under-active.

A Lesson in Priorities

Jesus, however, counters Martha's complaint with a gentle rebuke.  "Martha," he said, "you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.  Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her." 

Jesus is using the moment to teach Martha a lesson in priorities.  He even links it to a meal.  The term "the good portion" refers to that portion of a dish that is the tastiest, most succulent.  That was Mary's.  What Martha had chosen was not bad but it wasn't the best.  To put it another way:  Being hospitable is good, caring for your guests is good, but there is something better.

The point is not that service is unimportant or a waste of time, but service is no substitute for a growing relationship with the Lord.  Somehow Mary had realized that.

Mary would not have allowed her guests to go hungry.  But she knew the Lord well enough to know he would have been satisfied with some bread and perhaps some fruit or vegetables.  If there were some dried fish on hand she might have added that.  Perhaps she had heard the disciples discussing Jesus' instructions when he had sent out the seventy:  "Eat what is set before you."  In any case, she seems to have known the Lord had no need of a great feast such as Martha insisted on making.

Mary seems to have instinctively known what was most important.  Martha was confused on the matter.  Jesus' words to Martha--and to all of us--are in invitation to occasionally reassess what we consider to be our chief priority.

As I was reviewing Luke's account of Jesus' ministry and teachings, I realized there were two instances in which he speaks to the matter of priorities.

There is this story where he speaks to one who has a commitment to him.  Then there is another moment when Jesus addresses the problem in a parable.

And he told them this parable: "The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, 'What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.' "Then he said, 'This is what I'll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I'll say to myself, "You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry." ' "But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself ?' "This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God.".  (Luke 12:16-20)

 

Here is a person who appears to have a completely secular mindset.  He gives no thought to his soul (the reference to soul suggest an internal dialogue).   

Many today deny the existence of an eternal soul.  Convinced that all of life is the result of random chance, they believe humans are merely so much organic matter.  This man might have well be in their number.  He is a materialist with the materialist's creed:  "Rest, eat, drink, and be merry."  Jesus pictures him as supposing this is all one needs to be concerned about.

His rude awakening reminds him there is more to life.  We have a spiritual nature and we ignore it to our peril.

The Spectrum

So in these two account we see there is a broad spectrum of spiritual recognition. 

On one end we have Mary who knows she need to see to her spiritual life and so she places herself in a situation where that nurture can take place.

On the other end of that spectrum we see one who does nothing to nurture his spirit.  His mindset doesn't even prompt him to give thanks for his material blessings or to suppose his wealth might allow him to do something about the poor around him.

George Barna has written about what he calls "the seven faith tribes" in America.  One of these tribes consists of "the skeptics."  They deny or seriously question the very existence of God.  His research discovered that this group was the least-likely to give to charity.  They seem to believe, if people are successful (like the man in the parable), it is their own doing; if they are poor, that's their doing as well. 

At the same time they see little need of a supportive community.  They are smart enough,  intuitive enough, and shrewd enough to stand on their own.  The man in the parable, standing at the far end of the spectrum, mentions no friends or even family.  His wealth he will spend on his own pleasure.

Along this spectrum,  with Mary at one end and this Rich Fool at the other, was Martha.  She was, of course, closer to Mary than she was to that foolish farmer.  But her confusion about what was really important robbed her of the joy that might have been hers.  It kept her from knowing the peace that comes from recognizing that grace makes our effort to impress God unnecessary.  It kept her from seeing that whatever she placed before her Lord, if given in love, would be acceptable.

At the same time, she failed to see how her frenzied, complaining brand of discipleship might have turned the curious away from faith and commitment.

Like all of us, from time to time, she needed a priority adjustment.

Conclusion

There are others who need to have their priorities adjusted.

Those who live like the rich farmer with no acknowledgment of God's claim on their lives need to weigh the consequences of their approach to life, need to consider if the notion that this is all there is fits the evidence around them, the evidence in their own hearts.

Those who live like Martha should strive to discern the best from the good.  They should seek to avoid the distractions that keep them from the wealth of blessing God has for them.  They should focus on the "the good portion."

All of us have only so much time.  We must prioritize.  We must sort the good from the better.  We know this if we claim to be Christians.  As Christians, we might wish to have a good and comfortable home, but know if we are enslaved by a mortgage we may not be able to give priority to opportunities to serve and worship the Lord.  As Christian parents, we might want our children to know the joy playing sports, but know we should give priority the life and training the church offers.  As Christians, we rightly want our priorities to match God's priorities.