Luke 10:38-42
New King James Version
Mary and Martha Worship and Serve
38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore, tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
This is a frequent experience in the life of Jesus with many messages offered. One message however escaped me until I read a lesson by Elder Micelle Christy entitled “Sitting at the Feet of Jesus.” She focused on the lesson portrayed by Martha and her “distraction”.
Martha’s distraction led to five negative characteristic positions:
- Disbelief – Martha asks, “Do you not care…?”
- Defensiveness – Martha defends her place: “My sister has left me to serve alone.”
- Dismissiveness – Martha depersonalizes Mary as “my sister,” as though Mary is not even there.
- Demands – Martha flat out says to Jesus, “Tell her to help me.”
- Desperation – Martha attempts to control the situation—and Jesus—with her comment about being alone.
Having read this passage in the scripture for decades, I never saw this perspective that reveals the real dangers of being distracted. Since we live in a time of incessant distractions, swirling around us from the moment we awaken in the morning to the moment we lay our heads on the pillow for a night’s rest, this perspective is profoundly significant. Just imagine how we can slip into these negative positions. They individually and collectively can counter our positive intentions and purpose.
This awareness can help one to be more deliberate and intent on resisting the inclination to fall into exhibiting these “D’s” and tumbling into such negativity.
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TURNING POINTS
Awareness of the slippery slope that distractions can become averse to our good intentions can keep us on track. It truly is a time to do good without being shackled by distractions and their consequences.