Cumbered, Careful and Troubled

Christ in the House of Mary and Martha

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:40-42 KJV)

The Bible does not tell us that Martha was doing anything different from her regular household chores – seeing to her guests needs. We aren’t told that Jesus told her to stop serving as she intended. Basically, the result was that Martha continued with her chores and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet, listening, as she needed.

American woman are told over and over that they may choose how they live their lives.  This is a basic tenet of feminism, from what I read. Yet, when a woman chooses homemaking as her career, there seems to be a great deal of finger pointing. From the other side of the coin, homemakers are aware of what the working mothers (or unmarried career women) are missing.

For both of those activists, I suggest Proverbs 31:10-31. She actually did it all.  She sells merchandise and real estate. She has help at home, of course, befitting her position. She sees to her household, provisions, meals, and clothing. She raises children who appreciate her and is beloved by her husband – who is helped in his career.

Did you notice what was missing in the life of this Proverbs 31 woman we all point to as our desired achievement? She’s not working in the temple. No Sunday School classes, Ladies Meetings, prayer services. Not until we get down to verse 30 do we find:

… a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30 KJV)

Just as Mary was doing what was needful – by her own choice - so was the Proverbs 31 woman. Only Martha is shown complaining, and not about her own status, just that her sister was not with her.

While a Titus 2 woman is told:

That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.(Titus 2:4-5 KJV)

... we aged women are not assigned the task of enforcing our teachings, and that’s a very good thing. We need not defend our choices, nor accuse those who made others. We are to teach, and teaching by example is where our actions speak so much louder than our words.

That will help us to remain careful without being cumbered or troubled.