Distracted with much serving

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
 -Luke 10:38-42

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Jesus doesn't say that serving is a bad use of Martha's time, nor does he scold her for working hard. But he does rebuke her for being "anxious and troubled" about her work. 

Martha was so distracted by trying to please the Lord that she neglected Jesus Himself . . . so burdened by "serving" that she missed the joy of His presence.


{image: Christ in the House of Martha and Mary, Vermeer van Delft}