Pressure is something that we all feel. We have deadlines in ministry and school. We have tasks that we need to accomplish at work. Although pressure is needful in moderation, our response to life pressures is often to become stressed out. We become worried, grieving the Holy Spirit.
In the New Testament we see an example of someone who was worried about many things. Martha was a close friend of Jesus. It was likely that He had been in her house several times before.
Imagine the scene for a moment. The streets are dusty and soon a large crowd of eager disciples will be arriving at the house, following the famous rabbi from Galilee. The two sisters Mary and Martha are busy preparing everything. The best food and drink is laid out. This is a big occasion! The crowd arrives and Martha begins rushing around serving Him and the disciples. Her mind is filled with the worry and stress of the moment as she tries her best to meet the needs of the guests. She is pouring drinks, setting out more food, trying her best to deal with the onslaught. Suddenly she is aware that her sister is no longer helping her. There Mary sits listening at the feet of Jesus. Instantly, Martha is angry. That sister of mine is not carrying her weight! She catches attention of Jesus:
“Lord, don’t you care that my sister hath left me to serve alone!?”
Jesus looks at her and with His characteristic understanding replies:
“Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
You see, Jesus looked beyond the stress of the moment and saw deep into the heart of His friend. Martha did not need to be worried. Martha needed Him! No doubt at that moment Martha saw her need and also found herself at the feet of the Master, fellowshipping with Him and listening to His message.
Now lets step back from this situation for a moment and examine it. By serving her friends, Martha was not doing something intrinsically wrong. God wants us to serve Him and others. Her error came with her timing. She was serving when she should have been spending time with her Lord We too can step into this error. When things get busy it is all to easy to brush off our daily time with God. God will understand. We think. He knows how much I have to do! In reality God is waiting for us to meet with Him. He knows our weakness and wants to give us “the good part.”
As believers we must make it a priority to meet with Jesus and claim the promises available to us. We must cast our care on Him! It is through these times of fellowship that we find the strength we need to be obedient to Him. Make it a priority to spend quality time with your Savior daily. This is where the strength for your walk with Christ is found.
Will Esayenko is an evangelist from Alberta, Canada. He was trained at Baptist College of Ministry in Menomonee Falls, WI. He traveled twice with Bobby Bosler as a team captain doing youth evangelistic work during his college years. It is his goal to see a new church planting movement established in Western Canada.
