I visited a local church a while back after a season of leading a home church. It was a really special season of intimate fellowship, but we felt God moving our family; He put a longing in all of our hearts to find a local church body beyond our living room.

My two boys and I were greeted with warmth and smiles. We found our seats as worship was starting and joined in. Once worship was over, and the greeting one another was complete, the lead pastor came up to preach. He opened His Bible to the story of Mary and Martha, a familiar one to many, and for me, it’s one of those stories that God has used powerfully in my life that I hold tightly to.

He began His message reading straight from the Bible (Matthew 10:38-40):

As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. 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!”

The pastor stopped reading.

I was waiting for the powerful message of what’s better, but instead, he took the message in a direction that I was not expecting!

He talked about how Martha’s gifting and “wheelhouse” were acts of service and the importance of getting involved in ministries within the church. He said, “We can’t fulfill the mission without the hands and feet, the body all doing their part.” He went on to say that the church has several places for each of us to sign up and get involved and that this is God’s plan in order to accomplish what He wants to do.

I sat there with knots in my stomach, waiting for Him to bring it back to what was better.

But He didn’t.

He created an entire message on serving in the church, twisted scripture, emphasizing Martha’s worry was because she didn’t have help.

I couldn’t sit there anymore.

I quietly motioned to my boys to leave, and we slipped out.

We sat in the car, and I pulled up the passages and read to them what the pastor read, but went on to Jesus’ response (Matthew 10:41-42):

 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I asked my boys if the pastor taught this story the way it was written.

They both were stunned — the message had nothing to do with the heart of what Jesus was teaching Martha.

Is serving good?

Yes.

I personally love to serve!

I’ve been a part of church services, serving in various ways since I was old enough. Which at the time, was twelve. I couldn’t wait for the day I was old enough to help.

Serving Jesus is my jam.

But these passages in Matthew paint us a powerful picture of what’s most important, Mary found it, and Jesus would not take that away from her.

I was sad the pastor took those passages out of context. But I used it as a teaching moment for my boys. We talked about how important it is to read their Bibles, so they know when someone is teaching Truth or twisting it, but unfortunately, while I’ve never heard anyone preach to that extreme the way he did, the Martha syndrome is not isolated to this building.

The Martha syndrome is happening everywhere, all the time, and many of my brothers and sisters are “worried and upset about many things,” and the details of serving, “but few things are needed—or indeed only one.”

We are missing what’s best in many aspects of our busy lives, both in and out of the church building — sitting at the feet of Jesus.

Serving in ministry has replaced intimacy in the body of Christ, and many have gotten caught up with the worry about everything flowing perfectly, putting the emphasis on all the details and well-constructed, perfectly timed service, leaving Jesus in the dust.

This may sound harsh or extreme, but I’m not wrong.

I know so many pastors and leaders in the Christian community who do not have devotional time or sit in God’s presence just to be with Him, and they only read their Bibles so they can formulate a message.

This isn’t just a leader issue — plugging into ministries and having community has also replaced intimacy with Jesus, and many don’t even know how to sit with just them and Jesus.

Maybe I’m speaking to you.

Friend,

Jesus didn’t just give you clearance and pay for your ticket to Heaven. He came to restore the broken relationship and that close, intimate walk that was once in the garden before the fall of man.

He loves you, and He longs to be close to you.

He doesn’t want you to just know of Him because you talk about Him in your small group and learn about Him through Sunday’s message — He wants to talk with you and speak to your heart regularly and reveal Himself to you — just you and Him.

He wants you to know Him personally and intimately.

He wants you to do away with the checklist and concern of all the details of serving and sit at His feet, cling to His Word, and from there, ministry becomes an overflow of our time with Him.

Pray with me: 

Father, I’m sorry I’ve lost sight of what’s most important. I genuinely thought all I was doing was for You, but I’m realizing that’s not Your heart or what you desire of me. You desire my whole heart, my whole mind, and my full attention. Show me all the areas where I’ve gotten myself caught up in worry and help me see what I need to remove so I can connect with You. Holy Spirit, reveal the blocks that cause me to seek You through ministries, people, or community and not develop intimacy with You. I don’t want to feel intimated or lost in Your presence — I want to know what’s better, and I want to find it in You. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for sending Your Son to restore the close relationship that was once in the garden. Thank You for calling me back to Your heart. Amen. 

 

Today’s devotional was inspired from my book, Ripple Effect. I pray these words met you.

Much love,

Jillian