In Defence of Martha

Is it ‘bad’ to be a ‘Martha’? Does being a ‘Martha’ mean you are obsessed with cleanliness over godliness?

I can be a bit of a ‘Martha’ in that I gravitate towards what needs to be done. Mess and clutter make me stressed and anxious, and one reason why I can’t watch those hoarder shows on TV; they give me cold sweats. I find my depression and anxiety is worse the more clutter I’m surrounded by. Decluttering is one of my hobbies and I did consider starting a business at one stage, helping other people to have one almighty throw out, but I could see myself being a hoarder’s worst nightmare (having said that, I don’t care what your house looks like; please still invite me over for dinner). My house is nowhere near as clean and tidy as I would like, and I’ve learned to live with that. But I still have minimalist tendencies. I’d be quite happy in a caravan with few earthly possessions. I’m not a cook, like Martha, but I often felt guilty for not having a chaotic house full of people all the time. I tend to jump up in the mornings (once I’ve had my coffee) and start thinking of my to-do list, rather than God’s to-do list, which I’m sure involves sitting at His feet first.