Growing In Service
Serving – October 2022 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Growing In Service
There they made Him a supper; and Martha served. —John 12:2 KJV
Martha of Bethany usually comes up looking kind of tarnished when compared with her sister, Mary. She only served the Lord – and that in a complaining way – while Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But let’s take a second look at Martha. Three biblical accounts portray her as a growing servant – one who seemed to learn from her mistakes and so made good progress.
Scene 1: Martha The Belligerent (Luke 10:38-42)
Although Martha received the Lord into her house and served Him, she had a problem. Her sister irritated her. Mary wasn’t doing what Martha thought she should. Doesn’t that sound familiar? And so service had become a burden to Martha, and this resulted in a critical spirit and resentment, even toward the Lord. Now service was never intended to be a burden, but rather the outflow of a happy heart.
Scene 2: Martha The Believer (John 11:3-5,20-27)
Martha grew through suffering. In her distress over her brother’s sickness and death, she appealed to the Lord. We almost sense a bit of the old complaining spirit as she said, “Lord, if Thou hadst been here, my brother had not died” (v.21). As the conversation continued, she seemed to be able to trust the Lord for the future, but not for the present. That’s so like us, isn’t it? It’s easier to trust Him for eternal salvation than present difficulties. But Martha is moving in the right direction. She gives a ringing testimony of her faith in Christ.
Scene 3: Martha The Beautiful (John 12:1-3)
Another supper here, but its so different from the one in Luke 10. Now everyone has found the right niche. Martha serves, Lazarus sits at the table with Jesus, and Mary anoints Jesus’ feet with ointment. But best of all, no one is complaining. Martha has become beautiful. From her lovely example we can learn the joy of simply filling our place of service to the Lord, and allowing others to fill theirs.
By Grant Steidl