Just (Don’t) Do It

Growing Daily

I often feel a little frustrated when I hear women say, “I’m more of a Martha than a Mary. If we didn’t have Marthas, nothing would get done” (see the story in Luke 10).

Really? Is that true?

What if Martha had stopped worrying about dinner and paused long enough to sit at Jesus’ feet? Do we honestly think the Son of God would have let everyone go hungry? I doubt it. Maybe Jesus would have multiplied bread and fish and turned water into wine. I don’t know exactly what He would have done—but I do know that He would have ensured everyone was cared for.

So maybe Martha missed a miracle that day. And maybe the people gathered in her home missed an opportunity to see God work because she was consumed with managing everything herself.

Do you remember that before Jesus fed the 5,000, He turned to Philip and asked where to buy bread? The next verse tells us Jesus was testing Philip since He already planned to feed the people miraculously (John 6:5-6).

Whether from pride or a lack of trust, I know I sometimes fail that same test. I rush ahead, acting as if everything depends entirely on me, without pausing to sit at Jesus’ feet and watch Him work.

Lord, remind me today to trust You enough to sit down. To recognize that apart from You I can do nothing.

- Catherine Reid