The divine mentor: Lesson one

So what do a woman named Martha and Trees have to do with Mentoring let alone have something in common? 

Before we get to Martha's story, we need to look at a very large tree. In particular the California redwood.

Anyone who has seen a live redwood is impressed. Very tall and stately.  Strong. Their wood is fairly weather and pest-resistant (compared to most other woods) making it a good choice for outdoor furniture. All  that and more; but they're not "immortal." They can and do eventually succumb to nature: fire, flood, earthquake. And even to man; whether purposely or accidentally.

If a redwood is to survive these elements of nature and man, it must be protected. It's true that certain trials and tribulations "strengthen"  the tree, like us. But if not nourished and protected, it will die -  like us. 

One of these stately sequoias in California, after 400 years, did succumb.  The funny thing is, it perished because of something very innocuous: people who wanted to simply see it! Visitors to this giant of nature simply walked around and around it until finally, the roots gave way.  When the roots gave way it collapsed and died. That's quite a sad thing.  

And similar things can happen to all of us.

We get wrapped up in the daily hustle and bustle of life. A demanding boss.  Children that need attention. A spouse who, although well-meaning and loving, just doesn't understand our needs. All of these demands "walk around" us day after day.  One day we collapse. We may not die, but we are just worn out. We didn't protect ourselves. But how could we? We have all of these things we are responsible for. People and causes depend on us!

Sounds kind of like our friend Martha. You know Martha of the sister team Mary and Martha, don't you? Old "busy in the kitchen" Martha. Martha is the one who is always criticized and made fun of. But she was the one who "had" to make sure that Jesus was well taken care of. After all, it was Martha who invited Jesus into her home in the first place, not Mary. Martha was the mistress of the house and therefore the meal and any preparations, including the needs of the other guests that might come by, were her responsibility. We read in Luke 10:38 - 42,

"As  Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a  woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called  Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, 'Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!' 

"'Martha,  Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'"

And then when their brother Lazarus died, who was it who asked Jesus what took Him so long to get there? Martha again. 

"'Lord,' Martha said to Jesus, 'if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.'" John 11:21 - 22. 

Mary had it right. She worshiped Jesus. She sat at His feet and just soaked Him in. But in the end, so did Martha have it right.

For Martha, Jesus Himself had to take her aside and remind her of what was important. Yes, it was good and right for Mary to be with Jesus. Martha was being a good hostess. Jesus did not criticize her for her hospitality. But in the demandingness of life, being at Jesus's feet, and listening to His life-saving words are ultimately much more important.  Sometimes we need to understand that it is very necessary to put life aside and spend time with God. Life may be (is) demanding, but in the end, we will be spending much more time in God's presence. Eternity is a  long time. Getting to know God now is of utmost importance. 

The yelling and screaming of the temporary - the tyranny of the urgent - has to be "quieted" or put out, in favor of the importance of the eternal. Although Scripture doesn't give us the details, we can be pretty sure that after Jesus took Martha aside, she came to an understanding of what is truly important; and that she would have to protect what was important. All of us have to protect what is eternally important - our relationship with God.

Let's go back and look at John's Gospel, chapter 12. Before Jesus makes His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, he stops in Bethany at the home of, who else, Martha and Mary. In this short passage, verses 1 through 9, Mary again will get accolades for anointing Jesus with pure nard, a very expensive perfume. 

"Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived,  whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’  honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

"But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him,  objected, 'Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?  It was worth a year’s wages.' He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag,  he used to help himself to what was put into it.

"Leave her alone,' Jesus replied. 'It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among  you, but you will not always have me.'

"Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of Him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the  dead." John 12:1-9 

But look at what also is happening. Look at who else is there. Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead just a short time earlier, and Martha. And what is Martha doing? What else would Martha be doing? She is doing what God designed her to be and do: a good hostess who serves her guests and helps provide the right local atmosphere for her Lord. 

This time, however, she isn't complaining about Mary or anyone or anything else. She has been with Jesus first and is now able to serve others well. Martha has learned how to protect what is important - her relationship with God - while living a normal life, and exercising her gifts. Martha had the sense to allow Jesus to be her Mentor. 

Personally, the past couple of years have been taxing. Whether it is business or personal or family or ... It's just been hard. At one point, probably several now that I think of it, I had just had enough. I wanted to quit and run away. 

But where would I go? To whom would I escape to? I could escape to someplace else, but that would be a diversion. My friends and mentors in our Saturday morning small group were there, but it wasn't enough. Did they hold me up in prayer? Yes. Did they love me for who I am? Yes. But I needed someone who really understood the depth of my need. Getting back to teaching adult Sunday school was good, but... Even personal prayer time wasn't enough. I had let my "roots" be trampled on. I had let the protection of my heart and mind drop.

Someone reading this post is a "Martha." You are a good and courteous host. You care about your home, your family, and everyone that passes through your door. And you've been criticized time after time for being a "Martha." Those of us who aren't  "Martha's" really do appreciate what you do. We "Marys" couldn't have  half as much fun or enjoyment if you weren't a "Martha!" But seriously,  remember that all of your guests will enjoy the party even if the doilies are askew. We just want you to enjoy the party along with us.  We'll help you clean up or set up. Just ask.

Thankfully,  God keeps whispering in our ears. It's that still small voice that keeps that old Larnelle Harris song "I Miss My Time With You" playing in the subconscious. God does miss us. He wants us to spend as much time as possible with Him. When we open His Word, He always has something to say. He wants us to just come as we are. Whether we're tired or refreshed or scared or confident or confused, God wants us to just be with Him.

Here's my challenge to everyone reading this commentary: Get off Facebook and get face-to-face with your Father. That's right,  if you can tell me that you don't "have time" to be in God's Word every day but you can spend several hours every day chatting or being with your online friends, then you have time to spend with the God who made you. 

Will your life be freed from every trouble? No. Will your human relationships suddenly improve? Probably not. But what I can guarantee you is that the relationship that matters most, your relationship with God, will improve. He will lift you up. He will provide you with the courage you need to make those hard choices. He will be the Rock that provides shelter from the storms of life. He will love you like no other person can or will. He, your  Heavenly Father, will provide the peace and the mentoring necessary to make it in this life while preparing you for an eternity with Him.

Let's walk this Divine Mentoring thing together. If you're willing to spend just 15 minutes with your Bible and heart open on a daily basis, I  promise that you will set up a Sacred Enclosure that will sustain you through it all. As you grow in your Christian walk, you will want to increase the time. Your thirst and appetite will grow. You'll want to go back for seconds! Or more...