Are You A Mary Or A Martha?

[Jesus and the disciples] 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.

Luke 10:38-39

Two sisters, Mary and Martha, were God’s princesses in the New Testament. In fact, they were friends of Jesus along with their brother, Lazarus. When Jesus was in Bethany, he’d stop by and visit with them.

The sisters were very different from each other. When Jesus was going to visit them, Martha saw what needed to be done, organized it, and completed the job. But Mary would focus on Jesus, sitting near him and listening to him. This upset Martha. She felt she was doing all the work while Mary just sat around. Martha even complained to Jesus about it, saying, “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” (Luke 10:40).

If Martha expected Jesus to tell Mary to get busy helping, she was disappointed. Jesus said, “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 10:41-42). Jesus wasn’t saying it was wrong to want to clean the house and cook for him, but he was telling Martha that wasn’t what really mattered. The important thing was spending time with him.

God needs princesses who know how to both worship and serve but who remember that the worshiping is the more important of the two. You can worship at church by being involved in the singing, praying, and Bible teaching. Worship isn’t just about music. It’s an attitude of the heart. You worship God by putting the focus on him and getting closer to him. Your service is a result of that relationship. It’s not a separate thing. Because of your love for God, you want to do things to serve him and others. Both worshiping and serving are important, but the more important one is worshiping.

What are some ways you worship? What can you do to make your worship more meaningful? In what areas do you serve God? What are some new ways you can serve God? If you aren’t sure of the answers to these questions, ask God to show you what he wants you to do. Talk to a parent or Sunday school teacher, and share your desire to worship and serve. He or she may have some suggestions for you.