Two Types of Service

The basis of this article is based on the story of Mary and Martha the sisters' of Lazarus-the friend of our Lord Jesus of whom Jesus raised from the dead, and the differences in their types of service, and understanding the need to apply and practice both types of service into our lives without distractions, troubles and worry.

• Martha invites Jesus into her home, showing hospitality.
• Mary sits at the feet of Jesus giving her complete attention to the teachings and instruction of Jesus.
• Martha was distracted by much serving.
• Mary showed her love and awe of Jesus.
• Martha becomes jealous and complains that she is doing all the work in order to be the proper hostess and servant.
• Mary focuses on Jesus.
• Martha asked Jesus to instruct Mary to help her.
• Jesus reply: Luke 10:41-42; " And Jesus answered and said to her, 'Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part which will not be taken away from her'" (Spirit Filled Life Bible).

Martha had a legitimate concern was to be a proper hostess. Mary's concern was to be be a proper disciple. Jesus is concerned with Martha's distractions, worry and trouble over many things adding stress to her own desire. Jesus was not negating Martha's hospitable activities, but the things that Martha was worried about, troubled with was distracting her by under emphasizing the one thing needed which is to hear the word of God spoken through Jesus while spending time and fellow-shipping with Him.

Mary served with a devotion as a matter of the heart. The examples and contrast presented are between sincere, heartfelt devotion with external desire and hypocritical, pretentious practices of piety among the Pharisees.

Jesus warns us against allowing even the good genuine works to distract us from the whole hearted and sincere devotion to Him. Simply put, devotion is a matter of developing an intimate relationship with a living and loving God and Father, while gaining an understanding and learning the warmth of a life which draws near to the heart of our heavenly Father.

We should prefer Mary's place of learning at the feet of Jesus-Himself, while serving like Martha with a desire to be pleasing of whom Jesus commend. A practice that should be common place within our lives and worship should be the practice of patients, being persistent and preserving prayer. Thus enabling us to understand and perceive that only total love for God can empower one to rightly love one's self and others. Approach the heavenly Father's love with faith that we may receive the life and healing it provides. We should always pray in a honest and sincere manner while experiencing private times of prayer, learning by reading the word, and forsaking any display of religion that is done simply and only seeking the approval of men.

We should live responsibility and recognize that our life has a positive or negative effect, so that we will be able to bring glory unto our heavenly Father. Our loyalty should be to God forsaking any and all ambition that compromises our commitment and walk with and to our heavenly Father and God. God should receive honor as the Lord and highest Authority . There will be those who come to attempt to entangle us in our words and witness, and we should be able to discern between the claims of man and those of our God and heavenly Father-an example of this is given in Matthew 22: 21; when the Pharisees intentions were to entangle Jesus in His talk. However, Jesus perceived their wickedness and questioned why they had come to test Him. This should show and prepare us for the importance of knowing the words which Jesus spoke, taught and are written as the word of God. Many will come to test us and try to entangle us in our talk, just as they did Jesus. "They said to Him (Jesus) "Caesar's". And He (Jesus) said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's' (Spirit Filled Life Bible)". They were trying to trip Jesus up by bring up the taxes that Caesar when Jesus responded by asking whose picture was on the coin. Jesus teaches us to obey the laws of the land by giving to those that govern or have authority over us what belongs to them, but at the same time to give to God the Father what belongs to Him including our praises, honor and glory!

This was the position that Mary took-giving here full attention and time to the teachings and words of Jesus while in His presence, and not allowing anything to distract her from her attentiveness. To this Jesus responded that it would not be taken from her. She took to heart every word that He spoke applying it to her life with sincerity and heartfelt love and admiration for the Lord Jesus. Every word being deep seeded and grounded by truth, admiration's and love. There was no twisting His words to fit her life or desires-no turning to the right or the left as circumstances and situations arose in her life. Mary's devotion was like a sponge that soaked up every drop of water and retained it all.

When Jesus spoke that Mary had chosen the right way-this is what He was referring too. But He also strongly commends the serving attitude of Martha who was seeking through works and effort to be pleasing and allowing herself to be distracted, worried and troubled by all that she was doing and what others were not doing. (Boy, have I been there before).  Both of these attitudes and characteristics are important to keep the and have the proper devotion and love in our heart for the Lord Jesus. We must seed in our hearts every word that Jesus spoke, every parable that He clarified-taking time to sit at His feet and be taught by Him which we can accomplish through the written word, the leadings of the Holy Spirit-and the truth filled revelations given to us as a gift by our heavenly Father. And, in serving one another we should be patient, persistent and faithful to fulfill the task that has been put before us. We should ask our heavenly Father for His strength, wisdom, knowledge and understanding-while being led by the Holy Spirit instead of our flesh through our mind, will and emotions-not accepting our own perceptions above the heavenly Father. Why should we do this? That we may finish the race before us and receive the crown of our hope giving glory, honor and praise to God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.

At times we simply need to take a deep breath, sit and rest a the feet of our Lord Jesus, have a simple talk with our heavenly prayer sharing with Him the concerns of our heart-not for His benefit but for our own in acknowledgement of who He is, because He already knows the concerns of our heart but is seeking fellowship with us. Listening in silence to hear His voice and gain His instruction from His written word to gain a right and true understanding of our life-the things that we think we deserve and the true desires of our heart. To discover the things that have gotten us off track and caused distractions in our life-troubling things that have stolen our focus and concern, and the worry which actually does no good at all-but destroys our hope, kills our focus and steals our victory!

Let us take a step to obtain both the attitudes and characteristics of Mary and Martha-to have heartfelt devotion and love and servitude.