Chapter One | A Tale of Two Sisters | Day Two

I recently finished reading having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver.  A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read.  For the next 12 weeks, I plan to share my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book.

Going Deeper – Day Two

3) Read Luke 10:38-42.  List two things you learn about Martha in this passage and at least two things you learn about Mary.  How would you sum up Martha in one word?  How would you sum up Mary?

Luke 10:38-42 (King James Version)

³⁸Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

³⁹And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

⁴⁰But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.

⁴¹And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

⁴²But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

The two things I learned about Martha in this passage is that one she had the wisdom to welcome Jesus into her home and to treat him as an honored guest.  The second is that she really did not seem to enjoy life, she had many concerns.  However, they did not seem to be anything of substance.  I have to add a third she seemed to operate on automatic.  Martha, did not wait for instruction before busying herself.  Nowhere in this passage of scripture do we see her asking Jesus what he would prefer instead it seems as if she chastised / questioned him for encouraging Mary not to help her.

Now Mary, on the other hand, is shown to have the good sense one not to open her mouth to speak before listening.  Secondly she had the wisdom to sit herself at the feet of Jesus to hear his instruction.

If I was to use one word to describe Martha it would be “Driven”.

If I was to use one word to describe Mary it would be “Purposeful”.

To be continued…

The previous article can be found here.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

© 2009 – 2014, Lela Jefferson Fagan. All rights reserved.

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