By Dale Sellers

“As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home. She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said. But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. “Master, don’t you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand.” The Master said, “Martha, dear Martha, you’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her.” (Luke 10:38–42)

As a pastor, you have probably taught on this passage many times. The normal takeaway is that Martha was the server and Mary was the sitter. However, the story also reveals that Martha sat for a period of time, because it says she “was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen.” Likewise, it indicates that Mary served, because Martha complained, “My sister has abandoned the kitchen to me.” Both women made a choice about how they would respond to Jesus being in the house. I believe they chose based on their natural default.

If I’m being completely transparent, I have a feeling I would have done exactly what Martha did. I would have assumed that my service that day was being rated. I would have expected Jesus to peer through His spiritual microscope and critique my performance. And I would be called out and evaluated in front of everyone at evening’s end. Like Martha, I would have been so caught up in serving Jesus that I would have inadvertently ignored simply hanging out with Him. After all, there’s so much work to be done in performing for Him. What would you have done in this scenario? What do you still do?

Like Martha, I would have been so caught up in serving Jesus that I would have inadvertently ignored simply hanging out with Him.

I had never given much thought to Jesus’ final comment to Martha. However, there is something in His message to her that really convicts me today. Jesus said, “One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it—it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her” (Luke 10:42). Only one thing is essential. Just one. He defined the one thing by saying Mary chose it. The one thing is to enjoy His presence. That truth is so convicting to me. Jesus even reinforced its importance by saying this one thing wouldn’t be taken from her.

Let that sink in for a moment. The choice to enjoy His presence will not be taken away. I believe this is why Jesus said it’s essential. The scene of this lesson isn’t coincidental. Jesus was making a point for all of us who are more driven to serve than to sit. Every one of us has to make a decision as to how we are going to operate in ministry.

Every one of us has to make a decision as to how we are going to operate in ministry.

We can choose to serve Jesus while ignoring the intimate relational aspects of being His children—a choice that leads us to depend on our own ability. Or we can choose to sit, consistently choosing the atmosphere of His presence that He promised would not be taken away. This choice, by the way, allows Him to carry out His kingdom plan by ministering through us.

This choice to sit doesn’t mean you are idle or, God forbid, lazy. It just means you get direction and power in His presence before you attempt to carry out your ministry. To put it another way, I have been guilty of making my plans and asking Jesus to bless them instead of asking Him for His plan.

Leaders who operate as I did tend to find themselves in a continuous state of frustration derived from not understanding why their great plans didn’t produce the projected outcome. However, it must be understood that truly anointed ideas aren’t the ones we come up with and then pray for Him to bless. Consistent life-changing ministry happens only when He speaks His heart to us in an atmosphere of intimacy.

Leaders who operate as I did tend to find themselves in a continuous state of frustration derived from not understanding why their great plans didn’t produce the projected outcome.

This is why having an intimate relationship with Him is the key to overcoming the feeling that you should be there by now. How? Spiritual intimacy helps us see that there is actually wherever He is. This revelation will keep you from feeling as if you have to serve, or work, to get His attention and approval.

Would you describe yourself more of a server or a sitter? Do you have this internal drive to perform that can make you feel as if the success of your ministry is truly dependent upon you? Sadly, this is how I felt for years. This pressure lead to some big time health issues for me as well as a poor self-image.

What are you doing that is working well? What is not going so well? Let’s connect and have a conversation about it. At 95Network, we are here to support and serve you in anyway we can. If you feel like you’re in a season where your stalled out and can see the way forward then please reach out to me at [email protected]

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• Read Stalled: Hope and Help for Pastors Who Thought They’d Be There By Now

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