In Luke 10:38-42, we read a familiar story about two
sisters, Mary and Martha, who were acquainted with Jesus and entertained him at
their home. Let’s read this passage, 38)
“Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and
a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39) And she had a sister called Mary, which
also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.
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? Bid her therefore that she help me. 41) And Jesus answered and said unto her,
Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath
chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (KJV)
Now, I feel it’s safe to assume that Martha had also
sat at Jesus’ feet, since we read in verse 39 that her sister Mary ‘also’ sat
at Jesus’ feet and heard his word, however, it appears that Martha has become
upset in this occurrence with serving without Mary’s help. She comes to Jesus and asks him if he doesn’t
care about her lonely situation and even asks him to instruct Mary to pitch in. This story has been used countless times to
stress the need to spend time in reading, studying and listening to the Word of
God. I’ve heard it used to illustrate to
women that we should let the household chores wait and give the first fruit of
the day to God, and I’ve yet to hear any woman declare her liberation from
cooking, cleaning, laundry, child care and job with this concept! In fact, most of the time, it just feels like
there’s one more brick on the pile now, and still there’s no help with the
tasks that are to be done. Do I
hear ‘amen’?
I don’t believe Jesus was merely trying to get
Martha to forget the meal preparation and serving. After all, he was one of the main ones who
would be eating that meal. No, Jesus was
using the opportune moment to help Martha get free from worry! Oh my, now that’s something that could truly
bring some liberation!
Proverbs 12:25 “An anxious heart weighs a man down.” Matthew 6:27 “Who of you by worrying can add
a single hour to his life?”
Did you know that 40% of things we worry about will
never happen? 30% are about the past – which
can’t be changed, 12% are about criticism by others, mostly untrue, 10% are
about health, which gets worse with worry/stress and 8% are about real problems
that can be solved if a solution is sought.
Worry is a big waste of time and energy, kind of like
the hamster’s exercise wheel – spinning, spinning, spinning, making us tired
and weary and never getting anywhere!
The Bible tells us not to worry, in fact, it is
mentioned twenty-five times in the New Testament as something we should
avoid. The words used most often for
worry and anxiety in the New Testament come from the same Greek word, meridzoe,
which means ‘to be divided, to be pulled in opposite directions, to choke.’
In the parable of the sower, Jesus tells us: “The
seed that fell among thorns stands for those who hear, but as they go their way
they are choked by life’s worries, riches and pleasures.” Luke 8:14
An Old English word for worry meant ‘to gnaw’, like a dog with a bone,
a worrier chews on his problem all day long.
Why is the Bible so adamant about avoiding worry and
fear? Because God knows worry
short-circuits our relationship with him.
It fixes our eyes on our situation rather than on our Savior, Jesus Christ! A life filled with fear has little room for
faith!
Worry and fear pulls us away from God, causing us to
question his care for us, just as Martha asked in verse 40, “dost thou not care
that my sister hath left me to serve alone?”
When we are burdened down, choked by life’s worries, and yes, even
riches and pleasures – worried about how we don’t have what others have or
enjoy the things we want – we challenge the heart of God. We also become angry with others, just as
Martha was upset with her sister. She
was ‘worried’ about getting everything done for the Master and there was Mary,
just sitting there listening to the Master!
Are there things in this life that are
overwhelming? Yes! Is there more to do than there is time? Yes!
Do bad things happen to good people?
Yes! Will my worry and fear
change any of these facts? NO!
Paul had plenty to worry about as he sat in a Roman
prison. He didn’t know if his head was
about to roll or if he would simply be beaten near death, or maybe both. He had done all that God had led him to
do. He had been a faithful servant. Worry and fear could have taken him down the
same road as it did with Martha. He
could have been angry asking God, “don’t you care that I am left here alone in
this prison, my life hanging in the hands of unjust men?” Instead, he wrote the book of Philippians, an
incredible epistle of joy. Philippians
4:6-7 reads, “but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,
present your requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.”
3 Steps To Victory Over Worry
1) Be
anxious about nothing. (Not even one
thing! Not our families, not our finances,
future nor past. Allow one little worry
in and another is sure to follow, then another.)
2) Be
prayerful about everything. (“Any concern
too small to be turned into a prayer is too small to be made into a
burden”. Corrie Ten Boom)
3) Be
thankful for all things. (Gratitude has
the power to change our attitude! When
we are willing to give thanks to God in all things, not just some things – to
consciously thank him even when we don’t feel very grateful – something in us
begins to shift. We begin to see life as
Christ sees it, full of opportunities rather than obstacles. When we view life through eyes of faith, fear
diminishes.)
So much depends on our perspective. If God isn’t bigger than my problems, then my
problems are bigger than God. At that
point, anxiety takes charge. Our human
mind can only focus on a couple of things at a time. When we’re focused on a problem and our
inadequacy to handle that problem, there’s no room for God. When we shift our focus from the problem to
God and begin to thank him for taking care of everything that concerns us,
there’s no room for the problem.
Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers, whatever is
true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is
lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy –
think about such things.” Paul gives us
a list of things to think about when we’re tempted to fear, worry and doubt
(fret, grumble and growl). Isaiah 26:3
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee.”
I John 4:18 “Perfect love casteth out fear.” This is the main reason we need to sit at
Jesus’ feet. We need to humble ourselves
before him, repent of our self-bent ways and receive his love and
forgiveness. When we are secure and
assured of his perfect love, we can best overcome fear and anxiety. Fear always contains some of the torture of
feeling guilty. Why did Adam and Eve
hide from God after they had sinned?
They were guilty. They could not
feel the security of God’s love. Did it
change God’s love? No! He doesn’t change. He is not human with human faults. He IS love and there’s no shadow of turning
in him.
A friend of mine once said, “I want to stay low at
the foot of the cross”. I adopted that
into my heart, to desire to stay low at the foot of the cross, the place of my
redemption. The very moment that I begin
to feel self sufficient and adequate is the very moment I’ve struck out on my
own without him. The very moment that I
begin to boast in my knowledge and feel that I’ve got everything under control
is the very moment I begin to sink, I’ll be swimming for shore very soon.
At the feet of
Jesus may I ever stay
Pouring out my
worship to Him.
At the feet of
Jesus is the only place
That I find
peace and rest.
At the feet of
Jesus are mercies anew
Filling my life
with grace.
At the feet of
Jesus is a sweet exchange
For fear He
gives me faith.
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears. Those
who look to Him are radiant: their faces are never covered with shame.” Psalm 34:4-5
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