Made Like Marthaনমুনা

Designed to Be a Doer

A lot has been written about Martha and her sister, Mary, based on their story in Luke 10. But Martha often gets a bad rap. We get the impression that something is wrong with being like her. 

I envision Martha as strong and savvy—a to-do list kind of woman. Most of the time I am that way too. Yet in the mirror I see a modern Martha who finds herself frustrated because she’s not wired like biblical Martha’s sister. You know, Mary—the sister who chose what was “better” (Luke 10:42, niv). I try to shed the skin of efficiency because I interpret the passage in Luke to mean that Mary is the poster child for getting it right. Since I spend most of my days bustling instead of sitting at Jesus’s feet, I feel as if something is inherently wrong with me. 

I cringe at the thought of one of my less-than-stellar days being documented for all to analyze as Martha’s has been throughout the years! Jesus corrects Martha because she is bothered about many things. When I read this account, I add my own interpretation of Jesus’s words: “You’re not enough. You need to improve to be accepted. You need to try harder to be loved. Do better, be better, Martha.”

For years I’ve felt guilty for being task oriented. I assume that God wants to interrupt my well-oiled agenda and have me do something “more.” I scold myself for being a doer. At the same time, I feel as if God is mad at me because I haven’t been doing enough.

Yet what if God was really saying to Martha—and to you and me—“I just want to tell you I love you. I just want to spend time with you and remind you of My love—My love for who I created you to be.”

I didn’t choose to be a doer; I was designed to be one. My temperament is not to be erased but rather to be celebrated and used for God’s glory.

Just because we are designed to do doesn’t mean we are inferior or superior to Mary types. So what if God isn’t asking us to be Mary but instead wants to tell us how much He loves the Marthas we are?

When have you felt guilty for being more like Martha than Mary?