Rest in Jesus: Lessons from Mary and Martha

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. – Matthew 11:28-29

About a year ago, I began slowly taking things on my plate. I had realized that I was trying so hard to be a Martha that I forgot it’s okay to be a Mary.

Mary and Martha’s story, found in Luke 10:38-42, is a familiar one. Martha bustles around trying to serve while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet. When Martha becomes frustrated that Mary isn’t helping her, Jesus says that Mary chose the good part.

So what does that mean for us?

I think we often get caught up in our to-do lists and our busy schedules and forget how important rest is. Ministry is important, but we can’t serve others when we’re empty.

When We Become Empty

Being empty might look different for everyone. Maybe you become irritable or easily lose focus. I get frustrated, much like Martha, when I’m empty. I look around and see so many people who are seemingly doing nothing. And when I do this, I lose sight of the real reason I’m working: to glorify God.

And the truth is, ministry can be exhausting. We don’t just minister at scheduled times of the day (e.g. Sunday morning or Wednesday evening) but at any time. At any time, we may be called upon to minister to our family, friends, or even a stranger at the grocery store. We must be prepared, and to do that, we must find time for Jesus.

We must rest at His feet.

Two Things to Remember

By scheduling time alone with God and His Word, we can be reminded of two very important things:

• Who we’re serving for
• Who we’re serving with

When we remember that we’re glorifying God, when we remember that He is with us, the work carries a new meaning. By putting the work in perspective, it becomes less like work and more of an act of love.

So the next time you find yourself feeling empty, when you become frustrated like Martha, take some time with Jesus. You’ll serve Him best when you’re recharged than when you’re empty.

For more on taking time in God’s presence, check out my post Be Still and Know: Comfort in God’s Presence.