“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

Imagine a marriage where the husband is self-employed and the wife has a job.

He works from home unless he is away on business trips.

While she is at work, he does a lot of work at home. He cooks delicious meals. He takes care of the laundry. He vacuums the carpets and washes the floors. He takes care of the yard. He even takes out the garbage. (Please remember you are only imagining this, OK?)

Once she comes home from work, though, he is out the door immediately. She eats dinner by herself. She watches TV by herself. She is so tired from work that she takes a bath and gets into bed quite early.

By the time he comes home from visiting clients, playing sports, hanging around with his buddies or whatever else is on the agenda for that evening, she is sound asleep.

When he goes away on business trips, he makes sure that all the chores are done, dinner is made and in the fridge or the freezer. But she does not see him for days at a time.

Sure, they talk on the phone for a few minutes every day. But those conversations are fairly short, because he’s got paperwork to do and she’s got to write reports, iron clothes, do the dishes, visit with her friends or she is just plain tired and needs her rest.

Everyone admires how he does all these wonderful things for his wonderful wife. “She is so lucky to have a man who does so much for her!” “I wish my husband would do half as much for me!”

Deep down though, she would like nothing better than for him to just stay home and spend time with her.

Perhaps they could play cribbage together, garden together, go on walks and bicycle rides together. Or just sit and hold hands together without saying anything.

He continues to simply do things for her, never really making it a priority to be with her.

How long do you think this marriage will last?

Not for long, unless they make some serious changes, amen?

You know where I’m going with this, don’t you?

Many of us who follow Jesus are so busy doing things for him, that we do not take the time to simply be with him. We may spend a few minutes a day in prayer, but usually we’re doing all the talking, hello?

Not the best way to build a relationship with Him, is it?

In the classic story of Mary and Martha, Jesus makes it very clear that while he appreciates Martha’s desire to do things for him, Mary, who opts to sit at his feet and simply listen has chosen the better part.

Jesus makes it abundantly clear to us that he would dearly love to see us simply be with him.

It is not that he does not want us to do things for him.

He wants our doing to flow from our being.

Jesus stressed the significance of this when he said: “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit.” (John 15:5)

All a branch has to do is simply remain, stay connected.

As much as He is blessed by all our service in His name and for His sake, Jesus, like the wife in our scenario, would like nothing more than for us to strengthen our relationship with Him by simply being with Him.

Perhaps you could make soaking a disciplined means of remaining on the Vine.

(For details on how to go about soaking, please read the last third of yesterday’s DWOD)

Pastor Jeeva

Would you kindly share with the rest of your DWOD family what you do to simply be with Jesus?