Only Jesus Can
In Luke 10:38 – 42 we find a famous interaction between Jesus, Martha, and Mary. Let us read it,
Luke10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.
Luke10:39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.
Luke10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
Luke10:41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
Luke10:42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Notice that it was not the fact that Martha was busy that Jesus reproved. It was her focusing and worrying about the cares of life. Jesus told the disciples in the Sermon of the mount to "Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?" (Matthew 6:25). Why did Christ tell them to Therefore take no thought, saying, "What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?" and "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:31, 34).
Because, "your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things" (Matthew 6:32), and He is more than willing to provide them. So, Jesus admonished them to "seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you" (Matthew 6:33).
Those who seek first the Kingdom of God are the ones who chose to be good ground when the seed of the Word fell on them. They are they "which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience (Luke 8:15). In contrast, "are those which fell among thorns … which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection" (Luke 8:14). They did not have the patience to develop the fruit. And, this is because they lost hope that the One who had promised them to fulfill His promise would actually do it.
An optimistic person says, "Yes, I can." So when God does not bring to fruition that which He said he would as fast as they would, they take matters in their own hands. A person that walks by faith puts His trust on God. He says, "I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me," because, "with God all things are possible" (Philippians 4:13; Matthew 19:26). These people trust God even if Christ did not fulfill His promise in their lifetime (Hebrews 11:39).
Martha must have realized that her optimism was not enough. She thought to ask the Lord. But, instead of asking the Lord of "working out the impossible" to work things out, she sought to have her sister's help. Ask, yourself this question, whose help would you rather have? In whom would you rather place your hope? In other words, it is as if Martha told Jesus, "My sister and I can make it happen." And, Christ replied, "No Martha, only I can."
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Raul Diaz
www.wolfsoath.com
