Have you ever tried to fill someone’s glass with a pitcher that was almost empty? They don’t get much out of it. The same is true when we try to minister to people when our cup is dry. In addition, we can get frustrated and send out a few characteristics that are not Christlike. To be the nurturing women God called us to be, we must be filling our cup every day with Him.
This is shown in a very familiar story in Luke 10:38-42. As Jesus and His disciples were traveling, Martha did what was right and opened her home to them. She was a lady of hospitality, ready to serve her Master. Martha’s problem was not a lack of service, but that her cup had run dry so she wasn’t enjoying serving the Lord. In the meantime, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, filling her cup to overflowing.
The Bible says Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. This is a legitimate problem that we are all familiar with. I don’t know about you, but there have been so many times that I have gotten so caught up in preparations that I lost the joy of the occasion. One of the best illustrations that comes to mind is putting time into sweeping and mopping the floor for a gathering and then being uptight that something is going to ruin my clean floor. That may be an illustration that is specific only to me, however, I am sure everyone has something they deal with.
If you follow Martha’s story a little further, you find that she ended up being bitter about the situation. This is one of those NON-Christlike characteristics I mentioned earlier. I find it humorous (only because I have lived it) that it was Martha who invited Him over, and she got angry with Mary for enjoying His company. Jesus’ response to her anger, “Mary has chosen what is better,” says so much:
1. Spending time with the Lord is a choice.
2. We choose our schedules and set our own priorities.
3. Fellowship with the Lord needs to be 1st in our lives, even before ministering to others.
4. Our needs, preparations, or circumstances may not change, but our attitudes can.
As this year begins, I am making a commitment to put the Lord first. I want to sit at the feet of Jesus every day and be filled before I try to give to others. I am committed to be on guard and not let anything, not even ministry, take the place of His daily filling. As my husband preached last weekend, I will put “First Things First.”
Author Resource:-
Susan Sikes is the author of A Woman of Noble Character. Her ministry, Out of the Nest & Beyond, trains girls in the area of homemaking skills and encourages women. She sends out a free e-newsletter “News from the Nest” each month, which includes a devotional, tips, & recipes. To find quick & easy recipes, visitOut of the Nest & Beyond
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