My week had been extremely busy—so busy, in fact, that I had not spent enough quiet time with the Lord. Oh, I had been doing what I considered good deeds; and every activity was important and rewarding. I loved doing each one. The people involved are all very dear to me, and I am very glad I was blessed to have helped in each situation. Yet at the end of the week, I knew in my heart of hearts that I should have carved out more time at the feet of Jesus. I felt spiritually dry. I could not write because I had nothing to say. I had fallen back too much into what I call Martha mode.

I recently read a Christian novel, and one of the lead characters was named Mary Martha. As I studied her behaviors, I realized what a perfect name it was. The wife of a minister, she exhibited all the gifts of Mary—God focused, wise, humble. Yet she also exuded Martha tendencies—active, hospitable, nurturing.  As I read about her, I decided that’s what I wanted to be—a Mary Martha!

Most of my life, I have been just plain Martha—a busy workaholic who took too little time in quiet communion with the Lord. I just loved, loved, loved high energy activities. In recent years, though, thanks to a broken neck I received in a wreck that resulted in my being very restricted for three months and then another period of imposed stillness as I recuperated from back surgery, I have taken seriously Jesus’ comments to Martha about her sister Mary:

^“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “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.”

 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-41 NLT)

I have tried to carefully spend time each morning listening and talking to Him like Mary did. This blog actually began during that time of forced rest. I see myself as learning what I call Balance—a place of equilibrium between sitting in His presence and then doing his bidding–a place of intense inner peace and joy–the abundant life.

As if by divine appointment, I recently spent several hours talking with a young “Martha” who is in recovery from substance abuse. As we discussed our similar personalities, she talked of an unforeseen roadblock she had encountered in her personal life. She shared that her “old self” would have raved and ranted and impetuously rushed out and done something to try to change her situation. Now, though, as a new creation in Christ, she can accept this delay as the Lord’s means of preserving, positioning, protecting, and promising her an even better path–her words, not mine. As I looked at her pretty face and listened to the wise words coming from one so young, I mentally added another “p”: preparing, for I think the Lord is using her temporary roadblock as a means of preparation for a new future.

The scriptures are full of “Martha” personalities like my young friend who had to learn balance. Peter was certainly a male “Martha.” He was always ready to jump into action, even impetuously cutting off a soldier’s ear when he came to arrest Jesus. And then there was Paul, also a “Martha” type. He was so zealous that he was busy murdering Christians until Jesus blinded him on the road to Damascus and called him to be a Christ follower and apostle. I am sure both Peter and Paul learned balance the hard way while sitting in prison cells for months on end waiting on the Lord to unfold his plans.

As we return to the story of Mary and Martha, we see Jesus visiting them again—this time to mourn the death of their brother Lazarus. (John 11:1-41)

Jesus had purposely delayed his arrival until Lazarus was buried. When Jesus arrived, he was met first by Martha who chided him for being late. When pressed with questions from the Master about his identity, though, she answered, “Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”  (John 11:27)

Martha, I believe, was growing in her Christian walk and learning balance. In response to her faith, Jesus went to the tomb and raised Lazarus from the dead.

After a period of great rejoicing over the miraculous resurrection, Jesus left their home and spent several days in the wilderness before yet another visit:

 “Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.” (John 12:1-5)

Did you notice in this brief account that Martha was being Martha—serving dinner without any mention of grumbling—and Mary was now busy at the feet of Jesus, not just sitting there but anointing his body for burial? Both were ministering to Jesus in their own ways. Both were learning an important balance between being and doing. Both were fulfilling the Lord’s call on their lives and using their unique personalities for his glory. They were, I think, growing more like each other, though Mary’s was probably still the better part.

James wrote about balance when he said:

^“What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Now someone may argue, ‘Some people have faith; others have good deeds.’ But I say, ‘How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.’” (James 1:14, 18 NLT)

Challenge: What about you? Do you identify more with Martha or with Mary? Or are you a Mary Martha? Why not spend some time at the feet of Jesus asking for his insights and then do what he seems to tell you to do.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT)

“Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.” (Psalm 143:8 NLT)