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Last Updated on : Saturday, October 11, 2014

 

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selah

 

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Chapter 7

Mary and Martha


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CIRCUMSTANCES force some of us to be cumbered with much serving in the battle for existence, but wisdom is, not to let the duties of life be our sole thought. in that they cramp our spiritual outlook, causing us to serve the temporal more than is warranted. We are all familiar with that little domestic scene depicted in Luke's gospel, and perhaps familiarity has obscured our discernment somewhat, causing us to think of Martha, as being a self-centered slave to life's hum-drum routine and activities. However, the Scriptures give us the impression of a capable, outspoken, and faithful woman, having moments of weakness as we all have, yet one who could be relied upon when call came for service. In that little scene above mentioned, the Master has a mild rebuke for Martha, not a positive condemnation. We do well to keep this point in mind when comparing Martha with her more sensitive sister Mary.¾


Martha had a natural anxiety that all should be just so, in her preparations for entertaining so royal a personage as the Son of the God of Israel, and for the moment was somewhat over-anxious, causing her to comment on her sister Mary's apparent laxity in not giving a helpful hand. She even includes the Master in her remarks, saying, "Lord dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone. Bid her, therefore, that she help me." The Lordês reply would cause her to meditate much. "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things, but one thing is needful, and Mary hath chosen that better part which shall not be taken away from her."¾


Here, then, we have two women whose natures differ much. Mary, quiet and with a mind more highly attuned to spiritual meditations than her sister. perhaps, yet with a sensitiveness that might cause her to wilt under adverse circumstances, and become downcast. This would appear from the incident where the Lord comes to raise Lazarus, for Mary remains in the house, apparently overcome with distress. Here it is Martha, of the God-fearing, kindly, yet blunt disposition who steps forth to express to the Lord the feelings animating both Mary and herself concerning their brotherês death. "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died," at the same time expressing her belief in Christ as the Son of Deity, capable of performing anything he wished to do. Martha had an intelligent grasp of the Lordês teaching, and a firm faith in his claims as Israelês Messiah, and the Word informs us that the Lord loved Martha and her sister, and their brother Lazarus.¾


Is Mary, then, to be exalted above her sister Martha in all things. We think not. We find much to admire in both characters. The idea is to use discretion in building our spiritual house. while having at the same time to attend to duties necessary for our temporal existence as mortals. Were all Marthas and Marys, both in temperaments and occupations. Circumstances force same of us to be cumbered with much serving in the battle for existence, but the thing is not to let the duties of life be our sole thought, in that they cramp our spiritual outlook, causing us to serve the temporal more than is warranted. Of necessity, same have the hum-drum of Martha's duties, yet they become a solid support for their needs, and in their quiet way they can rise to the call of spiritually more favoured sisters, the Marys, who are often glad to lean on the faithful and practical Marthas.¾


Among the Marys are varying types, too. There are those who can live on an exalted plane of thought, but are lax in their temporal duties, thus showing that they have not attained to that nobility found in the true Marys and Marthas. A nobility which can, while walking in high places in Christ Jesus, stoop to minister in menial tasks, sharing the burden common to all, rightly dividing the word of Truth by not going to extremes in either direction.¾


The Marthas and Marys can, and must, work together, for they are heirs together of life in its fullness and beauty. Let not Mary despise her sister Martha, because she appears cumbered about. Let not Martha be indignant if her sister Mary can indulge more than she. Let them both esteem one another as doing their duty in their several capacities, being humble in all things. While Mary leads, Martha follows on, strengthening the things that remain. Together they form a beautiful unit, fit to share together, the glory to be revealed. -- H. Prosser.


The blending of the meditativeness of Mary with the practicability of Martha is the ideal to attain. A richly stored mind to think, and an ever-ready power to act; a loving, tender. and sympathetic disposition. and a self-sacrificing, generous and practical service, these are the true ornaments of character of the woman professing godliness, whose home is the modern counterpart of the little home at Bethany.

 


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