By Ruth Olujobi
“Now while they were on their way, Jesus entered a village [called Bethany], and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was continually listening to His teaching. But Martha was very busy and distracted with all of her serving responsibilities; and she approached Him and said, “Lord, is it of no concern to You that my sister has left me to do the serving alone? Tell her to help me and do her part.” But the Lord replied to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered and anxious about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part [that which is to her advantage], which will not be taken away from her.””
Luke 10:38-42 AMP
Dear Martha,
I saw you the other night rehearsing your solo for service on Sunday. I could tell you’ve really grown as a singer; those riffs were pretty solid. And that vibrato? Way to go girl! I’m really proud of your growth. But Martha, I'm a bit worried about you. I’m worried about your priorities. I’m worried that you’re losing focus and that your heart is drifting from the most important thing. I mean, thank you for wanting to serve, it’s simply amazing to see how much effort you put into things of the Father. In fact, we all should be just as happy as you to serve. But you see Martha, just serving isn’t enough. Where is your heart?
Martha, it’s important for us to remember that we shouldn’t let the activities we engage in distract us from receiving all God has in store for us. There’s so much we would receive from God if we could only stop, take a deep breath, and redirect your focus. I know you might not admit it, but I can tell that “you’re anxious about so many things” (Luke 10:41 AMP). I see the worry on your face when you sit at bible study, I hear the anxiety hidden in your voice when you talk about your choice of career, I can sense fear of the unknown in your questions about the future. Truth is, you’re not alone, and that’s why there is a huge necessity for you to have your heart deeply focused on God.
Do you know that the matter of the heart is the heart of the matter? Yup! Once our heart aligns with God’s will, we have a better understanding of what he wants us to do with our time, talent, resources, and how he wants us to live our lives. Focusing our hearts on God gives us a clearer picture of who we are and what we should be doing at every point in time. Sitting at God’s feet helps us draw the strength and grace we need to serve Him in accordance to His will because honestly, we really can’t do anything with our own strength.
Guess what? It doesn’t end there. Apart from better understanding what God wants us to do, having our heart focused on deeply knowing God helps us let go of the anxiety and worries that are deeply rooted in this thing called life. Here’s what the Bible has to say:
“Therefore I tell you, stop being worried or anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted) about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, as to what you will wear. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your Heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? … “Therefore do not worry or be anxious (perpetually uneasy, distracted), saying, ‘What are we going to eat?’ or ‘What are we going to drink?’ or ‘What are we going to wear?’ For the [pagan] Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; [but do not worry,] for your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But first and most importantly seek (aim at, strive after) His kingdom and His righteousness [His way of doing and being right—the attitude and character of God], and all these things will be given to you also.”
Matthew 6:25-26, 31-33 AMP
In our world today, it’s so easy for us to be overwhelmed by the many troubling things going on around us. The pandemic, wars, climate change, there’s just so much that can wrap us in uncertainty and fear, making us forget who AND whose we are. Things that once seemed certain have now taken a different turn. Ailments due to stress are on the rise and everyday, people are looking for ways to find peace in this crisis-stricken world.
But do you know what Jesus is saying? Just look at the birds of the air. They don’t sow or reap yet God still watches over them and feeds them. And don’t you know you’re worth so much more than the birds? (Matthew 6:26) He is telling you that He sees and knows your needs, many times even before you even ask Him. (Matthew 6:8) Jesus is also reminding us that even in a word full of chaos, agony, and despair, we are not without hope of the tranquility, happiness, hope, and love that He brings. He is the order in the disorder of our world, the light in the darkness we see everyday, and the breath of fresh air we all need to keep us going. But it’s hard to see all this if your heart is not fixed on God.
Finally Martha, do you know what else Jesus said about our hearts? He said where we place our treasure is where our hearts would be too (Matthew 6:21). Where is your treasure Martha? Is it just in the services you do? In the number of solos you’re able to nail? In the number of times you were able to lead Bible Study? No Martha, that shouldn’t be your primary focus. All these are great, but God wants more from you, so much more. God is looking for your heart. He is here today calling you to come into an intimate relationship with Him. He wants you to know that surrender comes before service; when you fully surrender your heart to Him, you can better serve in His temple. I know it might seem hard, but trust me, it would be the best decision you ever made. Would you accept His invitation today?
Pause!
I’m Martha! You’re Martha! We could all be Martha!
Yes, God wants our works, but more importantly, He wants our hearts. He doesn’t want us to be so busy with activities that we forget what is most important. This doesn’t in any way mean that we shouldn’t serve God in our capacities. Instead, it is an invitation to you who has drifted from God to return to Him, it’s a call to you who is distracted to reposition your priorities, and a gentle reminder to everyone currently serving that as we give Him our best, we should also sit at His feet to receive His best.