Worried and Bothered

July 17, 2009

Dear Fellow Travelers,
This is what Jesus said to Martha in response to her being upset because Mary was sitting at His feet, “leaving her to do all the serving”: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41 NASB).
For some reason, the story doesn’t continue far enough for us to find out how Martha responded to what Jesus said to her; instead, we are left to use our imaginations, and mine says, that after Jesus’ rebuke, she neither enjoyed His visit or the supper she had prepared. I am imagining that she probably sulked through the entire evening, wondering why she ever agreed to have Him over for supper, in the first place. [Yes, I could be wrong!]
I am also imagining that she didn’t speak to Mary for a couple of days, at the very least, because she was convinced that the entire fray was her fault, and nothing Mary could say would change her mind. To be fair, however, I am rather certain that Jesus’ words pre-vailed in her heart, and she came to her senses in a few days. I hope I’m correct!
Has you imagination caused you to wonder what Jesus was referring to, when He told her that she was worried and bothered about so many things? Was she worried that the bathroom hadn’t been cleaned? Was she bothered by the fact that Mary wasn’t bothered by her having to “do all the serving?” Was she worried that the bills weren’t paid? Was she bothered by having to live with her sister and not a husband? Had she just received news that her grandmother had stepped in a hole and broken her left leg? Had she just heard about the new tax increase that was going to be levied, so everyone could have health care? Was she worried that the Stalagmites were going to defeat the Amalakites?
Heavens, I have no idea what was controlling her thinking but I do know this: it was preventing her from sitting at Jesus’ feet and enjoying His Person.
I have a question: What has you so “worried and bothered” that you haven’t been sitting at His feet and enjoying His Presence?
Just thought I would ask—