Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)
Martha and Mary
38
Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving.
And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing
is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
To me, this story is frustrating and kind of a cold slap of reality. Martha invites Jesus to her house.
Martha’s sister, Mary, is with her. Jesus is sitting and teaching those in the house and Mary is sitting at his feet listening to what Jesus is saying. Now Martha is focused on being a good hostess and is working to take care of Jesus, perhaps
working in the kitchen preparing food. Martha is doing a good thing and serving the Lord, but she is getting frustrated that her sister is not helping her and she brings this to Jesus’ attention. Perhaps Jesus can say something to get
her sister to come and help her, but this is where Martha gets a cold slap of reality (not a real slap). Instead of telling Mary to get up, Jesus tells Martha: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one
thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” I would imagine Martha was a bit confused because she was doing a good thing. The point is, listening to Jesus was a better option. Listening
to the Words of Jesus should always be of highest priority. Perhaps Jesus might have fed them like the feeding of the 5,000.
I think of times at church when we may be having a covered dish meal after church
and some ladies get up during the service to go and set up for the meal. What they are doing is a good thing, but staying and participating in the worship service is a better choice. Maybe we should not confuse physical food for the Spiritual food
that is being offered. Martha was doing good, but it would have been better to have been fed the Word of God by Jesus himself.
I pray: O Lord, help me to prioritize my life to choose what is better.
Help me to put you as my highest priority, even over and above my wife, family, and career. I repent for not always putting you first. At the same time, help me to put my wife, family before my church work, yet keep you as the highest focus.
Amen.