It’s not either/or, it’s both/and when it comes to following Jesus

By Dean Collins

There are a variety of assessments used in business, education, and from various consultants that help individuals understand their preferences. These assessments are often used to help a person or a team understand tendencies. They can be helpful in discovering patterns of behavior and different approaches individuals have when learning, making decisions, and interacting with others. And while they can be helpful, they shouldn’t be used simply to label someone.  

We all have preferences in how we take in information, make decisions, order our lives, and relate to others. And even if we happened to score similarly when taking an assessment, that doesn’t mean we are exactly alike. We each have unique DNA, experiences, and family backgrounds. Perhaps this fact can give us some insight into what happened one day with Jesus and two of his friends.

One family, two personalities

Luke tells us Jesus was welcomed into a home of a woman named Martha at the end of a busy day. Martha had a sister named Mary. And these sisters are a good example of family members who may have been raised together but have different personalities and traits. Martha was clearly a doer and a helper. Mary was a learner and maybe had a tendency to investigate and listen before taking action.  

By this point in Luke’s Gospel, we know that wherever Jesus went there was always a crowd. When Jesus got to Mary and Martha’s home, it seems sure that his inner circle, if not more, were also there for dinner. So it’s easy to imagine that as Martha was rushing around the kitchen to figure out how to accommodate the big crowd arriving with her guest, she was annoyed at her sister’s casual approach to the evening. You can almost read the speech bubble over Martha’s head: “Well I’d also enjoy listening to Jesus, but someone’s got to do the work around here. We both thought this was a good idea, but apparently only one of us realizes that work is involved! “

Eventually Martha had to release her frustration, and she cornered Jesus. Maybe Jesus had pulled away from Mary to refresh his wine glass when Martha let it all out. “Don’t you care that Mary has left me to do all the work?!  Tell her to help me!” I suspect Martha was feeling what we all sometimes feel. You know that not-so-nice thought we sometimes have when we wish God would let old so-and-so have it because they aren’t carrying their load?

One love, many needs

But Jesus didn’t take the bait. If you haven’t yet figured it out Jesus never takes the bait. He is always consistent. His love is for everyone. He doesn’t play favorites. He is for each of us and even for those who don’t agree or even oppose us. He wants all to have their needs met. He died that everyone might have their sins forgiven and their lives transformed.  And so instead of scolding Mary for slowing down and spending time with him, he told Martha that she is a bit anxious and troubled and that Mary might be an example for her in this instance.  

Maybe when Jesus was away from Martha, she nudged Mary to lend a hand. But I can also imagine that Jesus started chopping the celery to add to the soup as an example for Mary to follow.

Two approaches, choose both

What we do know from the Gospels is that Jesus doesn’t call some of us to be still and others to take action. He calls us all to both. Just before he arrived at the home of Mary and Martha, he talked about the Samaritan who took action. He was the one guy who stopped to help the man who had been robbed and beaten. The Samaritan took time, spent his money, changed his priorities for a few days, and made sure this stranger was taken care of completely. The Samaritan didn’t just sit and read a scroll or say a prayer for the wounded. He took action.  

If we want to follow Jesus we will have to learn to slow down and sit with him, to have conversations with Jesus in prayer and absorb his Word. But we also need to be interrupted from our tasks and lists and notice when someone needs our help.  

Following Jesus will require times of quiet and times of action. It’s not either/or it’s both/and.  

Your time with God’s Word
Luke 10:33-42 ESV

Photo by Michèle Eckert on Unsplash

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