Jesus visited a home in Bethany where resided two sisters. During the visit, Martha complained that she was doing all the work, we suppose, of preparing a meal while Mary sat listening to Jesus. The account is found in Luke 10:38-42:
"And 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.
"And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
"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.
"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
"But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Many of us tend to become so occupied with accomplishing what we feel we must do that we miss out on some spiritual and rewarding experiences.
Luke tells us that Martha was "cumbered about much serving." A dictionary tells us that to be cumbered is to be hindered by obstruction or interference; to be hampered. Further, it is to be burdened in a troublesome way, or to be perplexed or distressed.
It's interesting that Martha was "cumbered about with much serving." Martha was doing something noble and good, even commendable — she was serving others, fulfilling what, apparently, she saw as her position or role in her household. But in focusing all her time, energy and attention upon doing what she thought she was supposed to do she was missing out on "that good part" during that momentous occasion when Jesus visited and talked in her home. We can infer from her complaint to Jesus that Martha's acts of service caused her distress and hampered her spiritual growth.
Sometimes, we get carried away and spend an inordinate amount of time doing what we think is expected of us that we miss the opportunity to perform those deeds that are needed of us. Examples of "Martha behavior" abound. To name a few:
A parent feels that completing a household task is more important than sitting down with a child when the youngster really needs to talk. A Church leader spends so much time on administrative matters that there is no time left to administer, or minister, to those who need a little extra care. A homeowner devotes excessive time and energy to mowing, clipping and pruning in order to maintain a beautiful yard while weeds threaten to take over the lawn of a house down the street where resides an ailing person who is unable to do yard work. A homemaker is so preoccupied with wiping away every smudge left by tiny fingers on windows and tabletops that children soon learn that their house is a place where things look good on the surface but the people who live there seldom feel really good about anything.
A woman who was alone observed a friend who was "cumbered about much serving." The friend kept an immaculate house and prepared elaborate meals for every birthday and most holidays. Her meals looked like beautiful photographs in a magazine feature. While she set a good table, she was usually so exhausted from all the preparations that she could not enjoy the meal. The single woman observed that everyone in the family might enjoy those special occasions if a less extravagant meal were served and if the house weren't spotless all the time; everyone would be happier if she were more rested and calm. The homemaker said, "That's easy for you to say; you don't have a family to cook and clean for." The single woman replied, "That's just the point. I've been afforded the time to look around and see what matters most. Believe me, what matters most isn't a spotless floor or a big meal."
Certainly, Jesus wasn't telling Martha that she never needed to prepare meals again or that she need not perform any other household duties. But maybe His message was that she ought to shift her focus from what she thought she needed to do at that moment to what would bless her life. On that great occasion of the Savior's visit, perhaps she should have opted to serve more simple fare in order to give herself time to nourish her soul. Perhaps there are times when we should do likewise.
