Anxiety and worry can, at times, overload our hearts and erupt unexpectedly in anger toward family, friends, or co-workers. But what alternative do we have? Is there a way to deal with our anxieties and concerns without becoming a burden to ourselves and others? To answer these questions, let’s consider Luke 10:38-42 and see the guidance Jesus gave to Martha when her worries surfaced in a negative way.
“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he said.40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed - or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NIV
What would be our response if we heard a knock on the front door of our homes, and we opened the door to see Jesus Christ standing there? Well, Martha had this incredible opportunity, and she immediately opened her home to Jesus and His disciples and set about using her gift of hospitality to serve them after their travels. But at some point, Martha’s focus changed from welcoming Jesus to dwelling on herself and her escalating worries about her duties. What happened to Martha’s heart?
We receive some clues in the description of her preparations for the physical meal ahead. Martha was divided in her attention and “distracted,” which in Greek means to be “drawn away.” It is also a verb tense pointing to an activity that is repeated or prolonged, as in a movie, where the action is replayed over and over again. Martha’s loving regard for her Savior at her front door had been distorted to the tunnel vision of repeated worry and discontent. Acts of service had become chores of drudgery.
Martha was listening to her-‘self’ on replay in the conversations of her mind. Her thoughts were perhaps similar to what you and I have experienced: “I am worried and anxious that I will not be able to finish this task! What will other people think of me if I fail? This work reflects who I am and my self-worth, so I must do it perfectly to earn other people’s respect and praise.” Notice Martha’s actual words: “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?” (Luke 10:40 NIV). Do you notice the dominance of "me" and "myself” in Martha’s worries?
And what about Martha’s feelings? In verse 40, we find out that she was feeling lonely and isolated (“by myself”), and in verse 41, Jesus says to Martha: “you are worried and upset about many things.” (Luke 10:41 NIV). Other translations use the words ‘bothered’ or ‘troubled’ which point to the tumult and upheaval of her emotions at this time.
Finally, we see Martha’s anxious thoughts progressing to sinful and defiling accusations coming from her mouth and her heart (Matthew 15:18) towards her sister and the Lord:
“She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Luke 10:40 NIV
“Don’t you care?” “My sister has left me…” Our enemy, Satan, has a permanent agenda to twist the truth, bring division, and isolate us from the love of God (John 8:44). In her anxious state of stress, Martha angrily accuses Jesus of not caring for her, of not fixing her concerns in the way she would like, and at the same time, blames her sister for her struggles. This struggle is a common one. When we have a lot of worries, troubles, or concerns, it is easy to doubt God’s love and care for us, and even easier to blame others for not helping us.
The good news is that Jesus does not get angry with us for our struggle; instead, He extends an invitation.
Jesus responded to Martha’s outburst with gentleness. He said, “Martha, Martha,"..."you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed - or indeed only one.” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV)
In Jesus’ statement, and, in this story as a whole, there is a forward-looking invitation. Jesus was inviting Martha to turn from worrying and working and begin resting and receiving. Watch how this very message plays out in the life of Jesus:
Jesus Christ was alone in the Garden of Gethsemane while His disciples left their Master unaided and slept through their prayers for Him. Friendless after His disciples had deserted Him, He nonetheless went forward to the cross.
“Do you now believe?” Jesus replied. 32 “A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone.” John 16:31-32 NIV
He stood alone in the courtroom with not one word to defend His Name while crowds heaped false testimony over Him to speed His death sentence along. Without a single offer of human sympathy, He yet walked onwards as a Lamb to the slaughter.
“So he questioned him at some length, but he made no answer. 10 The chief priests and the scribes stood by, vehemently accusing him.” Luke 23:9-10 NIV
Alone, He bent His back to the soldiers as they stretched to their full height to scourge and lash Him, with hate in their hearts. He still stumbled forward with a wooden cross laid across His back up the road to a remote hill of execution. Not one person from all those He had fed, healed, and prayed over in compassion came to His assistance, except a stranger named Simon of Cyrene who was compelled to lift His shameful cross. And finally, His Father God abandoned His only Son at His most desperate hour of need (Matthew 27:46), as He bore our filthy sins against God and man (1 Peter 2:24), dying with each one in slow crucifixion.