“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.” (Luke 10:40 KJV)
IRQs… In the technology world they are known as IRQ channels or simply hardware interrupt requests. Some input from some device needs to be able to run a command and the interrupt handler facilitates this need. The requests are handled with slight differences depending on the architecture of the processor. Yet, essentially, the requests are separated into channels and prioritized. In some cases, a series of these programmable controllers can be aligned in such a way as to funnel the number of requests before any of them even make it to the processor.
I am sure that each of us in the middle of a very busy schedule has had additional tasks come our way. Some we may accept. Others we politely decline as our plate is full. Inevitably we make this accept or decline decision based on the value we attach to it. Interestingly enough, a similar process takes place regardless as to whether we think the value is immediate or eternal. We are managers by nature and do not want to miss out on anything of merit or importance. We tend to attempt to stock pile both Earthly and Heavenly goods. Under the guise of humility, we do not want to let what we think is important get in the way of what may really have some worth. Under the guise of not wanting to be singled out as someone who does not pull his or her weight, we stretch things a little thinner.
This places us in a curious position. We assume a finite time and then arrange (and re-arrange) to see how much can be fit into what we perceive as that bottle. It is curious because God made time, not time regulated God. He can even bring people back from the dead if He is not finished with their testimony yet. Surrender inherently paints this whole picture differently. The prioritization is done by God. The tasks may equally crowd around us, yet there is time for all of them. This goes way beyond an individual attempting to manufacture their own humility. It is a humility that is only seen in it’s fullest context because it was first a seed planted in surrender. We see humility clearest when we see His unmerited favor or grace (see 1 Peter 5:5-7).
So, the big question… Did Jesus let Martha interrupt Mary? Why not? Was Martha’s statement untrue? Was there not work that really needed to be done? Did someone not end up having to do it? Was there not some benefit to be had by helping out? Jesus knows our tasks at hand. Be very careful that you listen to His voice that you might know that you are about the one He has for you today. A foundation poured on Him is not easily shaken nor distracted.
“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 10:41-42 KJV)