So What's the Fuss?

Luke 10: 38-42  “As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home.  She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.  But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."  The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing.  One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it - it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."

Now that I have had a taste of spring here in Tennessee, my mind recalls the events of the past.  Anyone who knows me knows of my desire to have fun.  Growing up in the country, it was my responsibility to hoe the garden to get rid of the weeds every spring.  Hoeing crops in a ¾ acre garden was an “after school” event that I never thought could be fun.  But I would make the best of it as I headed down to the garden with my little transistor radio tuned to my favorite rock and roll station.

As I began working with the sharp hoe, it always seemed that the first row I completed was my best weeded row in the whole garden. 

Soon I would lose interest in what I was doing and would get too close to the tender shoots of corn, cutting them down with the weeds.  I’d work a while longer then take a water break.  Walking back to the house, I’d find more seed and go back down to the garden to replace the cut stalks with new kernels.  No big deal; that should take care of it.

Later, when Dad came down to the garden to inspect the work, he knew that I had not been careful and paid attention to my task.  I figured he knew exactly how many stalks there should be in each row because he was quick to inform me in no uncertain terms exactly how many were missing.

In today’s verse, it is Mary I can relate to best.  My mind would think, “OK, this Jesus is really interesting, and Martha seems to have the kitchen under control.  I’ll just stay here and listen to Him until Martha calls us to the table.”

 I figure that Martha was a dedicated servant and host.  As she was in the kitchen, she began stewing because Mary was no help in preparing the meal.  Martha continued in her detailed preparations to the point that it consumed her and she became angry at her sister for not pitching in to help.

Let’s think how Martha might have sounded as she wanted Jesus to push Mary to get to work in the kitchen.  Maybe there was a little whine in her voice as she asked Jesus the question.  Then to her surprise Jesus told her that she worries too much over things that are just not that important in the long run.

To everyone’s amazement, Jesus did not scold Mary for spending time with Him and not helping out in the kitchen but instead Jesus said it was Martha who needed to get her priorities in place.  In other words, she was missing the big picture.

I like the big picture approach but I still had to replant the corn seeds for the ones I had cut off.  But maybe if we are so into the details we will miss the blessings God has coming our way.   But worry is a hard master to overcome.  I'm still working on that one.  How about you?