How do I know I’m a workaholic? I feel anxious when I’m not working! Although I yearn for rest, when I actually do get to rest, I feel restless because I feel like I’m wasting my time. But when I’m working, I’m always thinking about the rest. But when I’m resting, I feel I’m wasting time! Oh, what a wretched man I am! Who will deliver me from this body of sin? I’m a Martha!

“But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.'” (Luke 10:42)

To a workaholic like me, Martha seems more ideal! She was the one working to make sure that Jesus was comfortable and was provided for. She was the hard-working one. What did Mary do? Nothing! She just sat there listening to a sermon while Martha was doing e everything to serve! Jesus should’ve rebuked Mary; not Martha! But Jesus commends Mary over Martha. Why? Because when it comes to our relationship with God, it is more blessed to receive than to give.

The most important question is not: “What have you done for Christ?” but rather “Have you received what God has done for you?” Isn’t that the essence of the gospel? It’s not what we do for God, but it’s what God has done for us. Yes, serving the Lord is important. But there is something even more important that must take precedent. We must be served BY Jesus. Before we do good works, we must receive the good works done on our behalf.

That is why what Mary was doing was more commendable than what Martha was doing. Mary was receiving. Martha was giving. When it comes to our relationship with God, receiving must be the primary rather than giving. God takes more pleasure in doing things for us than us doing things for Him!

Would you sit silently before the Lord and listen to Him today? Would you take a leisurely walk today and soak in what He might say to you? Feeding your family, getting homework done, planning a lesson are all important but there is something more important: Resting in Jesus.

PH

It is more important to receive than to give in our relationship with God.