Priorities / Mrs Sarah Green

 

Mrs Sarah Green

Charlevoix, MI

 

Priorities

 

I love stories. I love to read them, listen to them and watch them unfold. Because of my fondness of a good story it’s no wonder that the Gospels are four of my favorite books. When I’m reading in them sometimes I can feel like I am helping the servants lug the heavy jars of water back into the marriage in Canaan – only to find those jars aren’t water any more but the best wine that has ever been served. I love reading about Elizabeth’s baby John leaping for joy when Mary entered the house, how Jesus healed the blind men, forgave the adulteress and even how Peter always had to be saying something, USUALLY the wrong thing.

But, with all the stories there is one that I understand more than the others. It is the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10. Poor Martha. She gets quite the rap for her demanding, bossy attitude. (Luke 10:40  “But Martha was cumbered about much serving and came to him and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?...” ) I am like Martha. I am a “bustler.” I dictate school schedules, play secretary to my husband, and I’m maid in my house, nurse to my children. Mothers and wives everywhere are muli-taskers – we must be! That is why I understand Martha. Many times when I’ve read the story of these sisters I’ve thought:

“Now, Lord, if we were ALL Mary’s, we might all go hungry. Our children would go naked because there wouldn’t clean clothes. Mary was doing a wonderful thing, sitting at your feet but really, what was Martha doing that was so WRONG? She was serving YOU, meeting YOUR needs.”

Then I read this same story in John. (John 12:2-3 There they made him a supper: and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him. Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair…”)

While Martha worked, Mary worshipped. Jesus said in John 12:7 “…Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.” And John 12:12 says that the NEXT DAY Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey. Only Jesus knew that as the crowds cheered for Him that in a few short days they would be jeering at Him. Mary’s ointment arrayed Him for this brief moment of glory and just 72 hours later Jesus was hanging on the cross. He had been betrayed with a kiss, His friends had fled, His body beaten beyond recognition, His flesh exposed to shame Him, the sin of the world on His broken body and even His Father had turned away. In His darkest hour, Jesus was reminded of Mary’s reverential love with the smell of the ointment that surrounded Him. Mary knew how to truly love Christ.

When I saw this – that how in the same meal Martha was etched into history for her work ethic and Mary for her love and worship – my heart was smitten. How often do I go through my day, working in my own power? I tell myself “I’m serving Jesus!” But while I’m so busy being His hands and feet I forget to seek His heart.

Mary’s love and worship taught me three things.

1.     It required sacrifice. The ointment was costly, yes, but she also sacrificed her pride. She was so broken with herself and sin that she had to show our Lord the depth of her gratitude to Him. She wanted Him to feel the love that she had been shown. Does He mean that much to me? Can I go an hour, a day or even DAYS without seeking Him, showing Him what He means to me? Am I willing to sacrifice my money AND time to seek His heart?

2.     It brought criticism. Martha berated her in front of everyone. Judas scoffed at Mary’s stupidity in wasting that much money. It’s hard to be criticized but she didn’t even notice. Mary’s eyes were on her Saviour, her heart full of love, and the clanging of this word’s opinions had no effect on her sold-out passion for Him.

3.     Mary’s love and worship had eternal rewards. Jesus said in Mark 14:9 “Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.” Jesus, the One who gave all and was servant of all was ministered to by this woman, and He blessed her eternally for it.

Martha did well by serving, we ARE to serve but before we serve, we need to love and worship our Lord. He needs to be our dearest Friend, the One you turn to for advice, comfort and love. He truly is a “Friend that sticketh closer than a brother.” As wives, mothers or just as women, it’s hard to stop, be still and commune with Him – but we must. It’s my challenge to myself this year to take time each day to “be still” so I can know the Lord and so I can love him like Mary did.