Are you busy or broken? That is an either or question, so lets try it one more time. Are you busy, or are you broken?

I will explain my interesting question with a story.

"A dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped his feet with her hair." (Full story in John 12:1-8)

In the busyness corner we have Martha who is known for taking care of the details and neglecting the presence of Jesus. Just weeks earlier Martha scolded Mary for listening to Jesus and ignoring the housework. Do you find yourself worried about the details of getting everything just perfect for God? Have you found yourself in a pursuit of getting the job done for God but somehow you've missed God along the way?

It's amazing how often we can be so focused on doing for God, that we actually lose focus on God.

In the broken corner we have Mary. If you were confused; nard is not just something you call your little brother when he's being a dork. Nard is an expensive and powerful smelling perfume. The jar that Mary poured on the feet of Jesus was worth a years salary! In today's economy that would be about thirty-two thousand dollars. It is hard for me to identify with that kind of sacrifice. Mary's heart and life were so broken at the feet of Jesus that she even used her hair to wash his feet. Are you at a place in life where you would give anything or do anything for Christ? Is your heart broken before your Savior?

There are other times Jesus commands us to be diligent and hard-working for the gospel, in service to others and for his glory. But this one time Jesus tells the people at the dinner that what Mary did was worth it. Don't get caught up in doing things for God that you miss out on being with God. We were not created to be a human-doing, we were created to be a human-being.

Take some time this week, escape the busyness of doing, and present yourself broken before the creator of the universe.

-Josh