What Is Your Tendency?

John 11:20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

Luke 10:41–42 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

We all have our tendencies. Mary and Martha certainly did. These sweet friends of our Lord were also the sisters of Lazarus, the man Jesus raised from the dead. They were very different in the way they responded to life's pain and opportunities.

When Jesus was visiting with them once, Mary sat at our Lord's feet and received instruction. Martha was busy making preparations and complained about Mary's lack of activity, but Jesus made it clear that He was happy about Mary's choice to sit and listen.

But when Lazarus died and Jesus came, Mary was found sitting again. Martha got up and went to meet the Lord in faith.

Spurgeon provides a useful insight about these ladies that reminds us to be aware of our tendencies:

Martha had earnestly expected the Lord’s coming, and her active spirit led her to meet him. In this she is an example to us: our faith and hope and prayer, should go forth to meet the Lord in his ways of providence and grace. We may not judge Mary, but we may do well to remember that it is a temptation to contemplative Christians to sit too still in hours of sorrow. Martha was cumbered with much serving, and there have been Marys who have been cumbered with much fretting. (C. H. Spurgeon, The Interpreter: Spurgeon's Devotional Bible. p 553.)

If we tend to find solace in quiet solitude with Jesus, we must be careful that we do not miss out on opportunities to get to our feet and fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19-20) and the Great Commandments (Matthew 22:37-40).

If it is our joy to be busy on our feet serving our King, we must be careful that we do not miss out on those moments to sit quietly at our Lord's feet and meditate on His grace to us in fervent prayer. Jesus spent time alone in prayer and reflection and we need that as well (Mark 1:35).