When Service Becomes Stressful

While the Bible doesn't tell us specifically what Martha was cooking, I have a feeling she wasn't throwing together a quick sandwich for Jesus and his followers. No, I believe she was preparing a feast. After all, it's not every day the Son of God stops by for dinner. I know if I had such an honored guest coming to dinner, I wouldn't serve Him a dish of Hamburger Helper. I would want to prepare a meal fit for a king, and I believe Martha felt the same.

But like many of us often do, Martha bit off more than she could chew. Her to-do list was long, and her strength was waning. Not only did she have to get everything done, but she had to do it to perfection. That means everything would finish cooking at the same time, each dish would be delicious and cooked to just the right temperature, and everything would look just as beautiful as Martha envisioned it. That, my friends, is a tall order. No wonder Martha was stressed!

While there's nothing inherently wrong with "going big" for special occasions, making it a habit can lead to spiritual and emotional burnout. Let's face it, we live in a culture that often celebrates the grandiose and spectacular. We're bombarded with messages telling us that bigger is always better, whether it's in our careers, our homes, or even our faith.

But here's the thing: God doesn't call us to constantly perform spiritual acrobatics. He's not impressed by our elaborate displays or exhaustive efforts. Remember what the prophet Zechariah wrote? "For who hath despised the day of small things?" (Zechariah 4:10). This verse reminds us that God values even our smallest acts of faithfulness and service.

When we consistently try to "go big" in our service to God, we risk several pitfalls:

Burnout: Like Martha, we can become "cumbered about much serving" (Luke 10:40). We're so busy doing for God that we forget to be with God.

Pride: It's easy to start thinking that our grand gestures are what make us valuable to God. We might even begin to look down on those who serve in simpler ways.

Misplaced Focus: We can become so fixated on the production that we lose sight of the purpose. Are we really serving God, or are we serving our own need to feel important?

Neglect of Daily Faithfulness: In our pursuit of the spectacular, we might overlook the beauty of everyday obedience. God is just as pleased with the person who faithfully prays for their neighbors as He is with the one who organizes a city-wide revival.

Discouragement: When our big plans don't pan out as we hoped, we might feel like we've failed God. This can lead to a cycle of trying even harder, getting more exhausted, and feeling more discouraged.

Don't get me wrong—there are times when God does call us to step out and do something big. But more often, He's calling us to be faithful in the small things, to serve Him with joy in our everyday lives. It's not about the size of our service; it's about the size of our hearts for God.

So, the next time you're tempted to "go big" in your service to God, pause and ask yourself: Is this what God is really asking of me? Or am I, like Martha, creating unnecessary stress for myself? Remember, sometimes the biggest impact comes from the smallest acts of love and obedience.