Serving by Sitting

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.  But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’  But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,  but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'” Luke 10:38-42

Their beloved friend was coming and preparation made. He traveled and taught and tended to many, and time with him was limited. When Jesus arrived, the sisters turned on their personalities, one on foot, the other sitting. One was distracted, the other in tune. While each served in her way, the Christ commended one as better. All serving was appreciated, though what was necessary would not be defined by anxious and troubled toil, but by listening to His voice.

If we are prone to action, we can make a vital contribution to the Body. Doers are necessary. But the Lord who’s being served cares about motivation and execution. When action becomes frenzy, and minds are a tizzy of details and stress that negate greater purpose, He is not served. When fretting overshadows love, the expression of gracious hospitality is muddied. The true gift of serving is motivated in love and focuses on the ones to whom we minister, not our tasks. (Romans 12:6-8; Galatians 5:13)

We serve the Lord and His people best when we sit at Jesus’s feet. He has deep wisdom to impart, much grace to convey. It is this time that teaches us His kind ways in interaction, His generosity and power. Moments taken here direct our plans, lend creativity for God-honoring preparation, keep us calm, and develop life-giving faith we can share with those we welcome. (Proverbs 3:5-6; John 11:1-29)

When we hear of a need, do we jump into action or pause before the Lord? In readying for service, do we take as much time listening to the Lord to purify our mindset and inform our plans as we do tending to minutiae? How do we handle distractions that prevent us from sitting with Him? Where do we need to pause from busyness and turn off the noise? How has our serving been helped, energized, and inspired by taking time at His feet?

“Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
that calls me from a world of care, 
and bids me at my Father’s throne 
make all my wants and wishes known. 
In seasons of distress and grief, 
my soul has often found relief, 
and oft escaped the tempter’s snare 
by thy return, sweet hour of prayer! 

Sweet hour of prayer! sweet hour of prayer! 
thy wings shall my petition bear 
to him whose truth and faithfulness 
engage the waiting soul to bless. 
And since he bids me seek his face, 
believe his word, and trust his grace, 
I’ll cast on him my every care, 
and wait for thee, sweet hour of prayer!” ~W. W. Walford (1845)

Lord, help me remember that serving You with excellence is serving Your interests and glory.