There’s Something about Martha Luke 10:38-42

The Text Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

How has this passage been understood? The contemplative life is preferred to the life of activity. The good Samaritan demonstrates how to do love of neighbor. This passage demonstrates how to do love of God.

The Context “Now as they went on their way...” Luke’s “travel narrative” (9:51-19:48) 9:51; 13:32-33; 17:11; 18:31; 19:28 This text immediately follows the “Good Samaritan.”

Where did Martha go wrong? Her work might have been overkill She put her agenda on her sister She violated hospitality rules

So what is that “something” about Martha? Martha was right in serving Jesus and providing hospitality We need not fault Martha for her work

Work All legitimate work is a calling from God. Work is any activity, paid or unpaid, by which an individual provides others with products or services which are of value to them.

Work is part of the creation mandate Genesis 2:15 “The LORD God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.”

Work allows us to exercise the dominion commanded of us Gen 1:28 God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

Work is a way to serve the lord Colossians 3:23 “Whatever your task, put yourselves into it, as done for the Lord and not for your masters.”

Work Work uses the talents God gives us. Work is how we serve our neighbors in our everyday activities. Work carries out the cultural mandate, developing the potential of creation. Work obeys God’s direct command (e.g. Exodus 20:9; II Thessalonians 3:10). Work is one of the core elements of discipleship and spiritual formation.

Must one always work? Mary Cana of Galilee It is a matter of balance--stewardship

οἰκονομία (oikonomia) Oikos—house Nomos—law, custom, teaching Literally rules of the house Translated as “stewardship” in most English versions The steward was the manager of the house Root word for modern term “economics”

The divorce—church and marketplace Stewardship Tiny sliver of life Your calling from God Serve your neighbor Generosity Spiritual Church (no world) Economics Vast majority of life Your daily work Serve yourself Accomplishment Materialistic World (no church)

οἰκονομία (oikonomia) All of life Work as a calling from God Support yourself by serving others Accomplishment empowers generosity Spiritual and material Church engaging the world

Take home The worker is worthy of his wages (1 Tim 5:18) People are not primarily consumers whose problems can be solved by giving them money, rather they are image-bearing producers of value whose main economic need is for opportunities to liberate their God-given talents and apply them in service through the work to which they are called. ----The Oikonomia Network A job or work?

For Further Reading Jay Richards, Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism Is the Solution and Not the Problem John Schneider, The Good of Affluence: Seeking God in a Culture of Wealth Gene Edward Veith, God at Work: Your Christian Vocation in All of Life