02.15. CHAPTER 11 - SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS
CHAPTER 11 - SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS
"Mary sat on the floor, listening to Jesus as He talked. But Martha was the jittery type, worrying over 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, `Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it - and I won’t take it away from her’" (Luke 10:38-42 - Living).
Martha was working hard at home. What can be more gratifying for a sister who truly loves the Lord than to make a good meal for her beloved Master and for His disciples? But that sweet labour she was engaged in became a burden too great for her to bear, when she saw what her sister Mary was doing. Not only was Mary doing nothing to help her - which seemed selfish - but she also appeared to be so happy in the Lord’s presence. And the Lord seemed happy with her too. Martha’s attitude had shades of the attitude that Cain had towards his younger brother. It is not easy for a sister to see others free from household burdens and rejoicing in the Lord, when she herself is weighed down with heavy burdens in her own home. Are we the jittery type like Martha? Martha was a weak vessel. All of us sisters are. She was also tired. But all of that still could not justify her spirit of complaining, judging others, comparison, jealousy and self-pity. When we are tired, we can go to Him Who invites us saying, "Come to Me all you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke, and I will give you rest. Let Me teach you - for I am gentle and humble - and you will find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens." (Matthew 11:28-30 - Living). In the midst of all our work, we can live before God’s face and acknowledge that He is on the throne, fully assured that He knows our every burden and problem. That will enable us to do our work with a lighter heart and with a spirit that is free - free to love and bless the others, even those who seem to have an easier lot in life, who seem to be able to go wherever they want to, whenever they want to.
"There is really only one thing worth being concerned about, and Mary has discovered it," Jesus told Martha.
It is a comforting thought that we don’t have to choose between being a Mary or a Martha. We can be both. We read that after Lazarus had been raised from the dead, they made the Lord a supper in that home again, and "Martha was serving" (John 12:2). Mary was again sitting at the Lord’s feet. But this time Martha had no complaints. She was happy, because she had learnt how to be at rest in the middle of her service.
She had probably learnt to "sit at the Lord’s feet", while working in the kitchen. We who are tied down to our houses can do that and experience the joy of fulfillment in our earthly work. We can be at the feet of our Lord, even while we are doing those necessary chores for our family. It is the unrest that comes from a spirit of complaining and jealousy that takes us away from the Lord’s feet, not our daily work. The whole earth is the Lord’s footstool. So we can sit at His feet anywhere.
David could testify, "I am quiet now before the Lord, as a child weaned from the breast" (Psalms 131:2 - Living). With no restlessness or possessive desire for the attention of its mother, the weaned child goes about without a care in the world. We can be like that too, for when we abide in the Lord, we will discover that He is with us, even in the midst of our household work.
"A single day spent in His temple (and my home is His holy temple, if that is the place He has appointed for me) is better than a thousand days anywhere else! I would rather be a doorman (or a busy wife and mother) in the temple of my God than live in palaces (of ease and comfort, outside His will for my life)........ For the Lord gives us grace and glory. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk along His paths" (Psalms 84:10-11 - Living) - even when those paths keep me for days on end cooped up in my home with long hours of work, or with sick children.
"I am with you always. I will never leave you nor forsake you", is the Lord’s word to us. This is the good news that our Lord has brought to us sisters in the new covenant: That He will always be with us, no matter what we are doing. And so we can meet with Him always - in our homes.
Now we desire nothing on earth but the presence of our Lord Himself (Psalms 73:25). As Madam Guyon has so aptly put it:
"While place we seek or place we shun
The soul finds happiness in none;
But with my God to guide my way
’Tis equal joy to go or stay.
Could I be cast where Thou art not
That were indeed a dreadful lot;
But regions none remote I call
Secure of finding God in all." The Old Testament saints cried out saying, "As the deer pants for water, so we long and thirst for the living God. Where can we find Him, so that we can come and stand before Him?" (Psalms 42:1-2). But today, we find Him always right next to us - in our own home. How blessed!