Don't Mow Your Lawn

What would you do if you were told that the Savior Jesus Christ was going to come visit you in your home later today? Would you run home and clean the house and mow the lawn? Ross Baron speaking at a BYU-Idaho Education week posed that question. He was talking about the experience in the scriptures with Mary and Martha when the Savior came to their home:

 “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.

And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

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.

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42)

Martha and Mary

Which one would you be – Martha or Mary? Brother Baron asked the question to the audience:

“If the First Presidency called and said they would be at your home in an hour what would you do? Would you go home and clean the house and vacuum, or would you just push the Cheetos off the sofa and say ‘come on in and sit down’”? (The Savior’s Interaction with Women in the New Testament)

In the old testament time, women were the ones that were responsible for taking care of the guests when they visit. Martha took that responsibility seriously, but Mary chose to go against that tradition and sat at the Lord’s feet to hear him teach. The Savior did not condemn the activities of Martha, but Martha’s judgement of Mary’s activity. Jesus would have honored Martha’s choice to serve and provide a meal if she had not complained about Mary’s choice. The moment that Martha judges Mary’s choice was when the Savior got involved. There is a time and a place for all things. There is a time for service and there is a time for worship. We don’t go to church for our Sunday worship services and in the middle of that service we have someone come in to vacuum the chapel.

In a world of constant choices, we must have balance and make sure we are not out mowing the lawn, that we choose the “good part” to worship at the Savior’s feet when we are given the opportunity.

Your comments and questions are welcome.