At the Feet of Jesus

When I first started going to church, I really wanted to get involved. I wanted to bring something of myself into the congregation. So I signed up for the Children’s ministry on Sunday nights. I committed myself to spending every Sunday taking care of everyone’s toddlers and infants. At first it was great. There weren’t any problems because I had spent a few summers as a nanny and I knew my way around dirty diapers.

After a while though, I started to feel really empty. I thought that I could go to the other service the church had and still get my time with Jesus and serve in the afternoons. It didn’t always work out that way and more often than not, I’d skip out altogether. I was really missing spending time with the Lord. Not to mention my fiancé at the time who went to both services with me. We would drive home afterwards and he would attempt to tell me about the lesson, but usually I had missed it all and he wasn’t fabulous about relating it to me. (Sorry honey).

I started reading more scripture and found a verse in Luke where Jesus was eating dinner at Mary and Martha’s home. Martha was getting upset because Mary was weeping at the feet of Jesus and not helping in the preparation of the meal. She even goes to the Lord and says that he needs to tell Mary to help her in the kitchen. The Lord replies that Mary has chosen to worship and be with the Lord and that will not be taken away from her.

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!"

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."” Luke 10: 38-42

It just happens that the next church service I went to the pastor spoke on this very same scripture that the Lord had put into my heart not two days before. Jesus was trying to tell me not to wear myself so thin that I forget to be with him. That I was so new to the faith I should be learning about Jesus right now and serving later when I am called to it.

I’m not saying that you shouldn’t serve in your church and your community. I’m only pointing out that your acts of service should be done because the Lord has asked you to do them. Not because you are trying to prove to the Lord what a wonderful giving person you are. He already knows you’re wonderful! He created you!