As usual the colors mean:
- Quotes from the Book
- My add-ons
- My Story
Chapter 5: Martha and my many things
This chapter is based off of the story of Mary and her sister Martha. If you haven't read it, please do so now.
"It's not the nature of what you do that determines the spirituality of any action, but the origin of what you do.""If what I do is done in complete dependence upon the Father, then it doesn't matter what the thing is, rather who the one is doing that thing. Is it me? Or is it Him? Colossians says that by faith it is beautifully and mysteriously both.
Now, I don't know about you, but I tend to think that I am more spiritual because I am typically quick to volunteer. I think next time, I'll take time to examine why I do it. Is it for God? Or is it to earn "brownie points" with someone else?"
Defending Martha: What She Got Right
"I see myself as irreplaceable when I think that the work won't get done unless I do it." Boy does this lead to over-committing myself and my time.
Martha, Martha: Where She Went Wrong
"Worship, not work, flows out of the hearts of those who believe[in Christ]"Am I the only one the winced when she read this?"We know we're supposed to trust God, but trust is so intangible. It almost seems passive in the face of all there is to do." Emily put into words things that I have only subconsciously thought to myself."She longed for acknowledgement and love, and was willing to do anything to get it." I can't help but to think of all the times I have worked my tail off just to earn an "atta girl from someone around me."
How Jesus Changes Everything
"Choosing to please God sounds right at first, but it so often leads to a performing life, a girl trying to become good, a lean-on-myself theology. If I am trying to please God, it is difficult to trust God. But when I trust, pleasing Him is automatic.
If we are pleasing instead of trusting then we tend to get impatient waiting for the answers to our requests or problems. When we get impatient, we tend to think we're doing something wrong, or something that displeased God. When we start feeling guilty, it leads us to move to performing to "regain his pleasure".
How about you? Are you a Mary? Or a Martha? Why would you say that?
I think I'm a mixture. I'm a Mary when nobody is around but when powerful, impressive 'Martha's' show up?...I feel like I'm viewed as too lazy and not enough and UP I go to try to keep up. Great post! {And love, love, love your new site!! yay!!}
ReplyDeleteI think I'm a mixture as well. There are times when I am very much like Mary and all I want to do is sit at His feet and listen to the stories, but there are other times where I feel like I have to do, do, do or nothing will happen.
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