Comparison
The majority of us have heard about Mary and Martha. We know that Jesus loved them (John 11:5). We know also that the two sisters had very different personalities…Martha, the superficial caretaker, and Mary, the devoted one. Isn’t that how it’s portrayed? We’re supposed to be more like Mary, right?
Did Jesus say that? Did the Bible, God’s word, say that? No. What the word does tell us is that Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. While Mary sat listening to Jesus’ teaching, Martha was distracted in her serving. Jesus gently taught her, Martha, 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 (Luke 10:41). He didn’t say Martha’s service or her welcoming hospitality was a flaw. What we can learn from Martha is that she had chosen to sweat the small stuff. In her attempts to honor Him as a visiting teacher, she had missed His teaching.
Isn’t it our tendency to compare the two sisters that Jesus loved deeply, and declare one the better? But without Martha’s inclination toward hospitality, Jesus may have gone to another house or straight through town, and Mary may not have heard His teaching at all. Her gift of hospitality and caretaking wasn’t’ wrong, but it had become her focus rather than Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t ask you to be someone other than who He created you to be.The world does. We are uniquely and wonderfully made with gifts and personalities to serve and worship Him, to bring Him glory in multifaceted ways. Choose the good portion, not comparison or striving to be someone you’re not. Be who He created you to be, just don’t put your gifts above the Giver.
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