Here I am at the beginning of another day and I am thinking, “Should I get busy?”  Things around me at work seem turbulent and I want to fix them.  I want to tie up all the loose ends because then I can have peace.  I want to get my work done so that I can be at rest.  However, with all of the doing nothing ever gets done.  When one worry is addressed another worry surfaces.  It is a chasing after the sun.  I gain nothing through all of my toils.  However, in the moment I can experience Christ.  I can sit at his feet now at the day begins.

The story of Martha and Mary gives us pause to recount which way is the right way.  Is it the way of activity or the way of rest?  When we put rest first it will stay with us in all the busyness of life.  It will bring peace to our soul.

Luke 10:38-42

 ³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

   ⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one.^[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Questions

1. Whose house is opened to Jesus?
2. What do Martha and Mary do?
3. Why is Mary’s choice better?
4. Are you task oriented or people oriented?
5. How can you let go of some tasks to focus on your relationship with Jesus?

Going Deeper

Observation

1. Who went with Jesus to Martha’s house?
2. Where was Mary seated?
3. What was the effect of all Martha’s preparation?
4. What was Mary’s rhetorical question to Jesus?
5. What does thinking about many things bring for Martha?

Interpretation

1. How many people, at least, was Martha hosting?
2. Was Mary alone at Jesus’ feet?
3. How is busyness related to anxiety?
4. Why does Martha assume Jesus doesn’t care for her?  How is she trying to control?
5. Why does Jesus say her name twice?

Application

1. Have you ever hosted a large crowd?  How did you prepare?
2. How is having visitors stressful?
3. Do visitors come to see you or your house?
4. How could you shed activity to be more at rest in Christ?
5. How is your anxiety connected to a need to control?