Mary and Martha - People criticize me for being a Mary

[Viennr]

It's hard to become a Mary more than to become a Martha.

I've long been doing ministry at church. I know of the joy of serving God and serving others.

But lately, everything has become so burdensome. I can no longer share the joy of the people at church in our activities and programs. I tell God "Lord this is good, right? I'm serving you and others by doing this ministry, correct? You are being pleased when i do these, correct?"

And then i realized, i bypassed the basic principle that it is because of my salvation that's why I do these things. I've become more devoted to service more than to Jesus Himself. It's like I'm now pleasing Him through good works....as if I can thank Him enough, serve Him enough, give enough, participate enough. Everything has become so burdensome no matter how much i make it clear to myself that serving God is supposed to be a delight.

People at church are so good making others feel bad when they don't actively participate in church activities. They're like "How can you say you're saved, if you're not working for God" "If you read your Bible and pray every day, it's all useless if you don't work for God" "Faith is useless without good works" and things like that.

I've just become tired of these. I'd like to come to Jesus and receive His rest. ("Come to me...and I will give you rest..The burden i give you is light ~ Matthew 11:28)

But it's like they'll come between me and God and say "No. Rest is not what you need. You need to do this work. Do this work. Then you will rest."

Is it wrong that i choose to become a Mary instead of Martha? Will God turn me away If i come to Him empty-handed and say "Lord can I rest in you for a while?"

I'm not saying I'll be a Mary forever. God knows when I should work and when i should be still, give myself to be conformed to His purpose.

I don't like doing things halfheartedly for God. It only hurts me more. I no longer want doing things out of peer pressure. Yup, that's the term I've been looking for. "Peer pressure." It's so strong in our church. Weary, tired people can't speak on their own because the religious ones, the Marthas, do the speaking for them.

No one understands me now. Reason why i'm writing here is because i really have no one to talked to.

 

[AbbysAunt]

Hi Vienner,

There is nothing wrong with needing rest. Every person needs rest and God knows this and wants us to rest. Setting aside time where you rest and focus on Jesus is a wonderful thing...we all need that and God craves that time with us too. Having peer pressure in your church and feeling forced to do things by the harsh words of man is not something God wants for us...The church is to be a place for worshippers to come together in unity..to praise and thaink God for His many many blessings. Because you are worn and weary doesn't mean you are not saved...it means you and many of us at times just need to renew ourselves in our Lord...spend time with Him and rest in Him.

In the bible we read about a prophet by the name of Elijah and how he was so weary and worn out that what did he do...yes he sat under a broom tree and prayed to the Lord to take his life...now you talk about a man who must of been beyond tired and weary...but lets look at what God did for Elijah and his weariness.

1kings 4:8 But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a broom tree. And he prayed that he might, die,and said " it is enough! Now, Lord take my life for I am no better than my father" Then he lay down and slept under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him " Arise and eat" then he looked and there by his head was a cake baked on coals, and a jor of water. So he ate and drank, and lay down again. And the angel of the Lord came back the second time and touched him and said " Arise and eat, because the journey is too great for you. So he arose, and ate and drank and he went in strength of that food forty days and forty nights as far as Horeb, the mountain of God.

According to the verse God renewed Elijah's strength in that time. He sent an angel to give him food and water and what did Elijah do after he ate and drank...he went back to sleep and rested some more...God knew his servant Elijah was tired and let him rest and regain his strength before sending him on to the next job He had for him to to. How can we do any job for God to the best of our ability if we are not rested and renewed to do so? We all need to rest and renew ourselves, our minds and bodies in our Lord Jesus and just rest..rest in Him.

I hope this helps you viennr...God bless you always and know that you are in the thoughts and prayers of all your brothers, sisters and friends here at Talk Jesus.

 

[SpiritLedEd]

Is it wrong that i choose to become a Mary instead of Martha? Will God turn me away If i come to Him empty-handed and say "Lord can I rest in you for a while?"

"'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 from her.'" (Lk 10:41-42)

SLE

 

[Viennr]

Thank you Abbys Aunt and SpiritLedEd!

It's refreshing to hear your words while I'm in a church that's full of Marthas. And I thank God more because He offers Son to give us rest whenever we're tired. This is what I've been telling to some people at church especially those in the ministry team i belong in but someone told me i should learn to spend time with God in the midst of work. Although they don't directly say it, they're making it seem unreasonable especially now when we're in the last days and according to them, we need to hasten things, share the Gospel to others and minister.

Anyway, thanks again my brother and sister. God's blessings be to you always.