Today’s message
Read and reflect
Jesus Wants Us to Have Martha’s Hands with Mary’s Heart
Dont be Working for Jesus but Too Busy for Jesus.
Martha was not a bad woman. That is what makes her story frightening.
She loved Jesus. She welcomed Jesus. She served Jesus. She was hardworking, responsible and committed.
If there had been a church workers’ award that evening, Martha would probably have won “Most Dedicated Worker of the Year.”
Meanwhile, Mary was sitting down!
You can almost hear Martha:
“Jesus, this sister is still sitting there while I am doing everything!”
But when Jesus finally spoke, He did not rebuke Mary.
He said:
“Martha, Martha… one thing is needful.”
That should disturb every serious Christian.
Because it means you can be busy for Jesus and still be missing Jesus.
You can preach, organize programmes, lead prayers, attend vigils, carry microphones and still have a starving private altar.
The dangerous question is:
When last did you sit with Jesus when nobody was watching?
---
1. SERVING JESUS WITHOUT SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS
Martha was not cooking for Satan.
She was serving Jesus!
Yet serving Jesus became her distraction from Jesus.
A preacher can prepare sermons for everybody while his own soul is hungry.
A prayer leader can shout, “Everybody pray!” while his personal prayer altar has been on annual leave since February.
A worshipper can sing, “I surrender all,” while surrendering nothing privately.
We can become so busy handling the things of God that we lose touch with the God of the things.
Before Jesus needs your hands, He wants your heart.
---
2. CHURCH ACTIVITY IS NOT SPIRITUALITY
Being everywhere in church does not mean you are growing in Christ.
You can attend every programme and still miss the Person.
You can own three ministerial ID cards, four clerical collars and one enormous Bible—and still have a very tiny prayer life.
Even your Bible may eventually ask:
“Sir, are we still in this relationship?”
Jesus did not condemn Martha’s service.
He corrected her priority.
The problem begins when service becomes a substitute for fellowship.
---
3. WHEN YOU START REPORTING OTHER PEOPLE TO JESUS
Martha complained:
«“Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?”»
In modern church language:
“Jesus, have You seen Sister Mary? Some of us are actually serious in this ministry!”
When intimacy decreases, comparison increases.
Suddenly, anyone not running at your speed looks unserious.
“I attended seven programmes.”
“I fasted twenty-one days.”
“I preached five times this week.”
Wonderful!
But Christianity is not a spiritual Olympics where angels stand with stopwatches.
God is not merely asking:
“How much are you doing for Me?”
He is also asking:
“What am I becoming inside you?”
---
4. “MARTHA, MARTHA…” — WHEN MINISTRY BECOMES ANXIETY
Jesus said:
«“Thou art careful and troubled about many things.”»
Programme tomorrow.
Flyer tonight.
Guest preacher has not replied.
Keyboardist is angry.
Generator needs fuel.
Offering is down.
Livestream is buffering.
Then somebody sends:
“Daddy, please call me urgently. I had a dream.”
Suddenly Elijah’s wilderness begins to look like a holiday resort!
But there is a serious warning here:
Anything you continually do for God without drawing strength from God will eventually drain you.
Jesus never intended His presence to become the casualty of our service to Him.
---
5. MARY CHOSE THE GOOD PART
Mary sat at His feet.
Before you stand before people, sit before God.
Before you speak for Him, listen to Him.
Before you carry His message, carry His presence.
Before becoming a public minister, remain a private disciple.
The pulpit must never replace the prayer closet.
Your title must never replace your intimacy.
And your ministry must never become so successful that Jesus becomes a visitor in the work carrying His name.
---
THE BALANCE
Jesus was not teaching us to abandon Martha’s hands.
He was teaching us to possess:
MARTHA’S HANDS WITH MARY’S HEART.
Work.
Serve.
Preach.
Organize.
Build.
But never become so occupied working for Jesus that you stop walking with Jesus.
Mary first. Martha afterwards.
Sit before you serve.
Receive before you release.
Be filled before you pour.
---
Reflection
Perhaps everybody calls you committed.
Your church depends on you.
Your calendar is full.
Your phone is busy with “kingdom matters.”
But your heart knows the truth.
Prayer has become preparation.
Bible study has become sermon research.
Worship has become performance.
And intimacy with Jesus has become another item on tomorrow’s schedule.
Then Jesus whispers again:
“Martha, Martha…”
Not because He wants you to stop serving.
He simply wants His servant back.
Dont be Working for Jesus but Too Busy for Jesus.
Martha was not a bad woman. That is what makes her story frightening.
She loved Jesus. She welcomed Jesus. She served Jesus. She was hardworking, responsible and committed.
If there had been a church workers’ award that evening, Martha would probably have won “Most Dedicated Worker of the Year.”
Meanwhile, Mary was sitting down!
You can almost hear Martha:
“Jesus, this sister is still sitting there while I am doing everything!”
But when Jesus finally spoke, He did not rebuke Mary.
He said:
“Martha, Martha… one thing is needful.”
That should disturb every serious Christian.
Because it means you can be busy for Jesus and still be missing Jesus.
You can preach, organize programmes, lead prayers, attend vigils, carry microphones and still have a starving private altar.
The dangerous question is:
When last did you sit with Jesus when nobody was watching?
---
1. SERVING JESUS WITHOUT SPENDING TIME WITH JESUS
Martha was not cooking for Satan.
She was serving Jesus!
Yet serving Jesus became her distraction from Jesus.
A preacher can prepare sermons for everybody while his own soul is hungry.
A prayer leader can shout, “Everybody pray!” while his personal prayer altar has been on annual leave since February.
A worshipper can sing, “I surrender all,” while surrendering nothing privately.
We can become so busy handling the things of God that we lose touch with the God of the things.
Before Jesus needs your hands, He wants your heart.
---
2. CHURCH ACTIVITY IS NOT SPIRITUALITY
Being everywhere in church does not mean you are growing in Christ.
You can attend every programme and still miss the Person.
You can own three ministerial ID cards, four clerical collars and one enormous Bible—and still have a very tiny prayer life.
Even your Bible may eventually ask:
“Sir, are we still in this relationship?”
Jesus did not condemn Martha’s service.
He corrected her priority.
The problem begins when service becomes a substitute for fellowship.
---
3. WHEN YOU START REPORTING OTHER PEOPLE TO JESUS
Martha complained:
«“Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?”»
In modern church language:
“Jesus, have You seen Sister Mary? Some of us are actually serious in this ministry!”
When intimacy decreases, comparison increases.
Suddenly, anyone not running at your speed looks unserious.
“I attended seven programmes.”
“I fasted twenty-one days.”
“I preached five times this week.”
Wonderful!
But Christianity is not a spiritual Olympics where angels stand with stopwatches.
God is not merely asking:
“How much are you doing for Me?”
He is also asking:
“What am I becoming inside you?”
---
4. “MARTHA, MARTHA…” — WHEN MINISTRY BECOMES ANXIETY
Jesus said:
«“Thou art careful and troubled about many things.”»
Programme tomorrow.
Flyer tonight.
Guest preacher has not replied.
Keyboardist is angry.
Generator needs fuel.
Offering is down.
Livestream is buffering.
Then somebody sends:
“Daddy, please call me urgently. I had a dream.”
Suddenly Elijah’s wilderness begins to look like a holiday resort!
But there is a serious warning here:
Anything you continually do for God without drawing strength from God will eventually drain you.
Jesus never intended His presence to become the casualty of our service to Him.
---
5. MARY CHOSE THE GOOD PART
Mary sat at His feet.
Before you stand before people, sit before God.
Before you speak for Him, listen to Him.
Before you carry His message, carry His presence.
Before becoming a public minister, remain a private disciple.
The pulpit must never replace the prayer closet.
Your title must never replace your intimacy.
And your ministry must never become so successful that Jesus becomes a visitor in the work carrying His name.
---
THE BALANCE
Jesus was not teaching us to abandon Martha’s hands.
He was teaching us to possess:
MARTHA’S HANDS WITH MARY’S HEART.
Work.
Serve.
Preach.
Organize.
Build.
But never become so occupied working for Jesus that you stop walking with Jesus.
Mary first. Martha afterwards.
Sit before you serve.
Receive before you release.
Be filled before you pour.
---
Reflection
Perhaps everybody calls you committed.
Your church depends on you.
Your calendar is full.
Your phone is busy with “kingdom matters.”
But your heart knows the truth.
Prayer has become preparation.
Bible study has become sermon research.
Worship has become performance.
And intimacy with Jesus has become another item on tomorrow’s schedule.
Then Jesus whispers again:
“Martha, Martha…”
Not because He wants you to stop serving.
He simply wants His servant back.
Reflection
Food for Thought
If working for Jesus constantly prevents you from walking with Jesus, something has gone wrong.
The vineyard needs workers.
But Jesus wants lovers before labourers.
Don't merely become a Good Martha.
Serve with your hands—but keep your heart at His feet.
If working for Jesus constantly prevents you from walking with Jesus, something has gone wrong.
The vineyard needs workers.
But Jesus wants lovers before labourers.
Don't merely become a Good Martha.
Serve with your hands—but keep your heart at His feet.
Prayer
Prayer
Lord Jesus, deliver me from being so busy for You that I become distant from You. Restore my private altar. Give me Martha’s hardworking hands but Mary’s listening heart. May I never build a great ministry while losing the sweetness of Your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Lord Jesus, deliver me from being so busy for You that I become distant from You. Restore my private altar. Give me Martha’s hardworking hands but Mary’s listening heart. May I never build a great ministry while losing the sweetness of Your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.