The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her." Luke 10:41-42
My first job for the church was in youth ministry. When I got hired my pastor told me one of the requirements of the position was that I take a one week retreat each year. I thought that was great and told him I would be sure to schedule it. Then life happened, and the ministry needed way more attention that I ever imagined it would. There were so many tasks that needed to be performed I simply did not have the time to go on retreat. I didn't even go on vacation. After about two years my pastor caught me and sent me on that mandatory retreat. I can't tell you how much difference that made in the ministry God had me in charge of.
Doing the work of ministry is very important. But if we are not grounded in a firm relationship with Jesus it is all for nothing. The story of Mary and Martha is familiar to most of us. But somehow we continue to fall into the footsteps of Martha. Thinking we always have to be in the process of "doing the work" for God's kingdom. But Jesus doesn't want workers who do not know him. And we can't know Him unless we spend time at his feet. Today let me encourage you to take time out of the doing and just spend some time sitting with Jesus.
