How to Develop a Critical Spirit

"Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone?  Tell her then to help me."
In this question, we can sense the empty way in which ministry is being done.  Martha is tired and her focus has switched from joyful service to drudgery.  When we are empty, or burned-out in ministry, we do damage to the relationships around us.  Watch what happens:

• From Emptiness to Burden- Any other day, Martha loved hospitality.  Today, ministry has gone south.  Joy has been replaced by drudgery.
• From Burden to Loneliness- As Martha looks around, she feels alienated and lonely.  Only she is doing the work.  Others enjoy the fellowship with Christ and she would love to be sitting there too.  Her circumstances are different.  She's scrubbing pots.  Is she the only one who can see the essential nature of her work?
• From Loneliness to the Criticism of Others-  Joyless service has caused her to resent her sister.  Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet listening.  She too is hosting.  There is work to be done and time is short.  Why isn't she helping? 
• From Criticism of Others to the Criticism of Christ- The emptiness, the loneliness, the overwhelming nature of ministry, the lack of help in the task, lead Martha to question the care of her Savior.  Surely, if he knows all things, he can see her distress.  He knows the work she is doing alone.  Doesn't He care?  If He cared, He would DO something.  Right?

When she issues the invitation, she had no intention to become critical.  She wanted to serve, it was her joy to serve.  It was how she viewed ministry when she felt empty and burdened that was the issue.  It was time to examine motives and refocus, time to sit at Jesus' feet again.  Dinner can wait.