Reflection On Martha’s Attitude Towards Serving 马大服事态度的反思
Author : Sis Teo Geok Lai
Translator: Sis Charis ong
Luke 10:38-42
Recently, our cell group started on a Bible Study series called Mary and Martha - Balancing Life’s Priorities. One of the lessons drew from Luke 10 : 38-42, exploring the attitudes of Mary and Martha towards serving.
The Bible records that Martha invited Jesus and His disciples to her house and hosted them warmly by preparing a lot of good food for them. Such a scene must be familiar to hospitable sisters in our midst. When there are guests coming to our home, I believe we will go to great lengths to prepare a feast for them so that they may be left with a good impression.
In this case, Jesus however praised Mary, saying that she has chosen what is better. Is it wrong of Martha to be so attentive to her guests? Or that she did not do well enough? Martha is, in fact, someone who loves the Lord, who is passionate about serving, and is hardworking. Jesus is neither rebuking Martha, nor negating her service, but saying that Martha is busy with, frustrated with, and distracted by the mountain of work to the extent of grumbling against and blaming others.
This might be a response that most people will have when faced with stress and trouble. Indeed, there are many things in life that will cause us to lose our inner peace. We appear to have forgotten to slow down our pace, to first come before Jesus, draw close to Him and seek Him for help, and lay down all our troubles and stress at His feet because we know deep down in our hearts that God will care for us.
My dear brothers and sisters may God help us to have Martha’s attitude towards serving the Lord and at the same time, a heart like Mary’s that seeks the Lord.
文:张玉莱姐妹
路加福音10:38-42
最近我们的小组查经课程：马大和玛利亚“生活的优先次序”。其中一课，经文取自路加福音10:38-42，探讨有关马大与玛利亚的事奉心态。
经文记载马大邀请耶稣和他的门徒到她的家里做客，并热情的为这许多访客预备丰富的美食。这样的场景，相信对许多好客的姐妹来说都会觉得很熟悉。当有访客来到我们家时，深信我们都会花尽心思来预备丰富的美食来款待我们的客人，好让客人会留下美好的印象。
在这一个事件中，耶稣却称赞了马利亚，说她已经选择那不可少的上好福分。难道马大如此殷勤的待客是错的吗？还是她做得不够好呢？其实马大是个爱主，而且是一位热心服侍，且是勤快的姐妹。耶稣不是责备和否定她的服事，耶稣乃是说马大为许多事忙碌、烦躁、分心，甚至到一个地步，她开始埋怨和指责别人。
这或许也是大多数人会有的反应，就是在面对烦恼与压力时的反应。的确，生活中许多的事务会搞到自己心烦意乱。我们似乎忘了停下脚步，先来到耶稣面前，亲近与寻求他的帮助，并把一切的烦恼与压力卸在祂面前，因为深知祂必会顾念我们。
亲爱的弟兄姐妹，求主帮助我们，能有马大殷勤事奉主的态度，同时也有玛利亚那专心寻求主的心。