Distracted in Service

 

Distracted in Service But Martha was distracted by all the preparations to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her to help me!” — Luke 10:40 Martha’s fault wasn’t that she served—it’s fitting for every Christian to serve. “I serve” should be the motto of all the members of the heavenly kingdom. Nor was her fault that she served a lot. We can never do too much for God. Let every part of us—mind, heart, and hands—be devoted to the Master’s service. It wasn’t even wrong for her to be busy preparing a meal for Jesus. How blessed Martha was to have the chance to host such a guest, and how wonderful that she poured herself into her work so completely! Martha’s fault was in becoming “distracted by much serving,” to the point that she forgot about Jesus Himself and focused only on the tasks. She allowed her service to overshadow her relationship with Him, presenting one duty at the expense of another. We should strive to be both Martha and Mary: to serve a lot, but also to spend time in communion with Jesus. This takes great grace. It’s easier to serve than to spend quiet time with God. The more spiritual the work, the quicker we tire. The finest fruits of grace are often the hardest to grow. Beloved, while we must not neglect outward duties, we should ensure that we maintain personal fellowship with Jesus. Don’t let sitting at His feet be neglected, even if you’re busy serving Him. The most important thing for our soul’s health, for His glory, and for our usefulness, is to stay in constant communion with Jesus. We must make sure that the vitality of our spiritual life is maintained, above all else. From Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon.