A Prayer of Faith

What comes to your mind when you think about Mary and Martha, the New Testament sisters? I suspect most of you would probably respond with the story most commonly reflected in a Del Parson painting that often adorns the walls of Relief Society rooms. (In fact, it is usually the only story that comes to my mind, even though there are three stories in the New Testament about these sisters.)

Some of us have probably found ourselves thinking about the story in Luke 10 and trying to determine if we are more like Mary or more like Martha. Perhaps we compare the two, or maybe even feel that one “type” is better than the other. Martha was busily doing necessary service and work. However, the Savior praised Mary, did He not?

Unfortunately, sometimes the phrase of praise that erroneously comes to mind is that “Mary chose the better part.” This misunderstanding had tainted Sister Olson’s view of Mary and Martha’s story for years. She says,

“I [had] concluded that Jesus was saying that studying truths, learning facts, and sitting still while pondering [Mary-like traits] were ‘the better part’ and therefore the ‘one thing’ necessary. I was surprised to discover, years later, that the comparative word better doesn’t appear in this scriptural account [see Luke 10:42]” (p. 7).

Sister Olson’s book is essentially based on that one verse in Luke, clarifying that “the scriptures do not read that the Lord thought Mary’s actions are ‘better’ than Martha’s service to Him. But the scriptures do read, ‘One thing is needful.’ Coming to Him, trusting Him as the Author and Finisher of our faith, and accepting His enabling power as the source of all our successes makes our service pure and selfless.” She continues with her insights on what the story of Mary and Martha can teach us about true discipleship:

“Jesus Christ is the one needful thing. What does that mean amid chaotic daily agendas and anxious uncertainty for the future? The world urges us to strictly follow step-by-step formulas to achieve success. In striking contrast, the Savior taught, ‘Come unto me’ (Matthew 11:28)….I do not need another checklist (derived from scripture or anywhere else) to define the Lord’s role for me. I need Him” (p. 12).

The book contains much food for thought — so much, in fact, that upon completing the book (and while reading it, for that matter), I had that drinking-from-a-fire-hydrant feeling. While Sister Olson’s premise is simple, the many insights she gives along the way are profound and worthy of serious consideration and application.

Application, in my opinion, is the greatest strength of the book. Sister Olson is an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University. She sees things in scripture that I would never know to look for. And she shares some interesting insights in that regard. But what inspires me most about this book is the way she takes these narratives and translates them into concepts that have the potential to help me be a better disciple of Christ. For example, she says,

“What is wrong with being cumbered about much service?… [It] skews our focus. When…efforts to help are excessive, the focus is on me, the servant, rather than on those to be helped or the enabling power of the Lord…. [Being cumbered] twists our perspective to believe that we have finally done enough, so we balk when, inevitably, more is requested…. [W]e anticipate the praise we will merit for our sacrifice and good deeds. In our prideful blindness, we tend to quantify good deeds, concluding the more we daily accomplish, the more like Christ we have become. Within the twisted mindset evolves the mistaken notion that the more we do and the more we help others, the less we need to draw on help from the Lord” (p. 35-36, 39, 43).

“Choosing the ‘better part’ is therefore remaining steadfast in Christ regardless of our circumstances, challenges, or talents. It is neither what Martha was specifically doing nor what Mary was specifically doing….

“The standard [of service] is not found in our output but in our motives. Our temperament and focus are telling indicators of when we cross the line from selfless service to cumbered serving. Therefore the ‘one needful thing’ also takes into account why we serve” (p. 47-48).

Sister Olson draws other lessons out of the narratives, as she discusses the following:

The danger of comparing

The need to go directly to someone with whom we have had conflicts (see Matthew 18:15)

The importance of making time for “listening, pondering, and learning by the Spirit” (p. 80)

The need to give service without “tinkling cymbals and trumpet accompaniment” (p. 89)

The reasons why service should not necessarily be anonymous

The requirement to wait on the Lord after we have come to Him and turned to Him

The need to put God first in our lives.

One of the chapters that impressed me the most was the one on priorities. I can’t resist sharing one more quote from that part of the book.

“Setting priorities is not a problem of time; we each have exactly the same amount allotted each day. With increasing opportunities to learn and to serve and so many good causes that would benefit from our help, we will always have more on our daily list than we can accomplish. That is where Martha and Mary help us to remember. We may not accomplish number ten or even number three on our daily list, but we will most assuredly get to number one.

“When God comes first in our lives, whatever comes second will likely change tomorrow. Furthermore, whatever comes second for me will likely be different for you. When God comes first in our lives, however, whatever comes second will always be right…. Putting God first supplies direction to our quest for balance, for finding the One Needful Thing whose gifts cannot be taken from us” (p.105-106).

I think it’s clear that I would recommend this book. It’s certainly not light reading, but it’s worthwhile reading. It is a book I will want to read again. Thank you, Sister Olson, for showing me how Mary and Martha can point me to the Source of peace and balance in my life.

Mary, Martha and Me, by Camille Fronk Olson. Published by Deseret Book.

Cover image © Deseret Book. Used with permission.

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