Thanksgiving Martha



Luke 10:40

But Martha was cumbered about much serving; and she came up to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister did leave me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

John 12:2

So they made him a supper there: and Martha served; but Lazarus was one of them that sat at meat with him.

Let's use the word cumbered tomorrow during our Thanksgiving festivities. Let's! Man, I could lick the screen that Turkey looks so good!

These two verses fascinate me and show a maturity in Martha...from a one who is cranky to one who serves willingly and joyfully. Like a raw turkey that has been cooked to maturity. Although biblical timelines are often hard to nail down, the story retold in John 12:2 is clearly later. It is post raising Lazarus from the dead, and Jesus is soon to go to the Cross. Martha serves without a peep of complaining.

In the first verse, I could hear her squawk, "Hey, the blankety-blank Butterball ain't going to cook itself y'all!" Now, in the second verse, she is laying out a spread and keeping her spirit cheerful.     

Here is a truth: In times of stress, task-oriented people become more task-oriented. But, they also typically become more irritated and agitated. Fairness is often an issue; they typically feel they are carrying the weight of freeloaders who are taking advantage of them. Do you think it a coincidence that Martha Stewart, the "Queen of Make it Look and Taste Right Even if it Kills Me", is named Martha?  Where's the joy, Martha? Who are you trying to impress? God? Jesus? People? No. Jesus is telling you to chill. Either learn how to serve with thanksgiving or just don't serve. Or repent of your bad attitude. Or, stop planning such a production. Serve PB and J and get on with it. If you can't do it well attitudinally as well as actual food, don't bother.  

The great moral of the Bible verses above is that Martha learned how to cook a meal without burning herself in the process. The Scriptures are profound in both what is written and what is not written. Martha serves dinner. No commentary. Done deal.  And probably did the dishes. With Thanksgiving. She employed her gifts without a cost.         

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