The Bible is full of everyday people that we can draw inspiration from; seeing a little of ourselves in who they are.  Take Martha of Bethany for example.  The Bible doesn’t say, but Martha was probably a woman of means who had servants, cattle, and lots of land.  She was able to feed and house thirteen plus men every time Jesus came to Bethany.  The first time they meet she offered Jesus something that He could not find anywhere else; rest and peace (Luke 9:58b).

Martha’s story starts off with her being angry that her sister did not help her with serving their guest.  Although, that is not the end of her story, the more time Martha spends in the presence of Jesus she starts to realize who she is in Him.  In coming to know Him she learns her part in this beautiful tapestry of life.  I to, as I get to know Who Jesus is I started to learn who I am.  Like Martha I moved from being a servant or aid to a host, a friend, teacher, and minister to those who would listen.  Martha had grown in her time with Jesus; she was more mature now, more comfortable with her place.

Martha had many gifts including administration (Luke 10:38b), she choose to use the greatest gift she had and that was the gift of helps.  She could have had one of her many servants cook a meal for her guest, but she thought it a privilege to serve the Master in this capacity.  To take everything you are and everything you have and give it away to build someone else is the greatest of all gifts; one that God decided to give to me.  I have always been able to take my own talents and experiences and use them to further someone else’s dream.  To take my gift of administration and give someone a working map to achieve something great excites me.

Martha used her gifts to minister to the needs of Jesus and the disciples; selflessly giving all of herself to her honored guest.  I realize as time goes on I can see the growth in my own life.  As a baby Christian I was like Martha taking on more than I could humanly handle then expecting people to rescue me from my work.  Not knowing that Jesus came to rescue me from myself.  At first the things that I did was because it was something that I do; now I do the things I do because they are who I am. Mary poured out her oil on Jesus, but Martha poured out herself and every day I do the same.