Martha, Martha, Martha.
Would that sum up how you feel about your women’s ministry? Do you feel like you are working, working, working, but making little spiritual impact?
This can so easily happen without even realizing it. We plan events, Bible studies, outings, fundraisers and go, go, go! Don’t we? While we also want to sit at the feet of Jesus all day, there are practical things that must be done. But, if we are not careful, we will consume ourselves with the details. This is what happened to Martha:
While they were traveling, He entered a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who also sat at the Lord’s feet and was listening to what He said. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks, and she came up and asked, “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to serve alone? So tell her to give me a hand.”
The Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary…” Luke 10:38-42a
How many times have well-meaning women come up with ideas for the women’s ministry that are not God-led or in line with your church’s mission? Or someone has an idea, and want to give it to you to accomplish? (God love’em!) It is important that we do not let a “Martha spirit” drive our women’s ministry. When we do, we are apt to suddenly feel that we are having to manage everything all by ourselves. I know that I fight this feeling constantly.
The one thing that frustrates me most in ministry is the inability to really see the return on investment. It is very difficult to measure sometimes. If you are like me, looking for balance between the Mary’s (dedication to the ministry of the Word) and Martha’s (dedication to getting things accomplished), then maybe it’s time for an honest assessment. Here are some great assessment questions to ask yourself (and myself) when creating the balance:
- Which initiatives drive our church’s mission?
- Which initiatives do I truly feel led to do?
- Which initiatives do I feel God may be saying to let go?
- Which initiatives need to be limited or scaled back?
- Which initiatives are no longer attracting and impacting?
- Which initiatives are lacking?
- Which initiatives need revamping?
And then you simply let go of everything else. This will free you up personally to spend more time to do the “one thing necessary” – spend more time with Jesus.
If you would like to follow this series on Detecting and Defusing 4 Opposing Spirits to Women’s Ministry, click here.
Spur on!
~gina
” And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds,” Hebrews 10:24
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