TEXT:

‘But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her’ (Luke 10:42)

THOUGHT:

Only Luke records this incident in the home of Martha and Mary. Martha is over-concerned with serving food to Jesus and His disciples, but Mary is content to sit and listen. In response to Martha’s demand for Jesus to intervene and get Mary working, Jesus instead commends Mary’s good choice that would have lasting consequences.

What choices are we making and are they the right ones? Moses challenged the Children of Israel to choose life.¹ Joshua urged them to choose that day who they would serve², adding, ‘As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!’ What can we learn from this incident that will help us to make the right choice?

• Learn to stop when a once in a lifetime experience comes your way.

The Bible only records a few occasions when Jesus stayed in someone’s house, whether for a few hours or overnight. After all, not everyone could accommodate Jesus and the twelve disciples, or be willing to feed them! Jesus, yes! All the others, no!

Perhaps Martha had remembered the Shunammite woman who built an extension to provide accommodation for Elisha³ and this was why she invited Jesus and His disciples to stay. The Shunammite woman got the blessing of a son and also of him being raised from the dead. Martha got the later blessing of her brother Lazarus being raised from the dead.⁴

When Jesus is passing your way, whether it is through another Christian, unusual experience or trial, you will know or sense something special or different is about to happen. Do not dismissive of it! It could have far-reaching implications and blessings. When Jesus told Zacchaeus He was coming to his house, he welcomed Him with open arms.⁵ Little did he know that the outcome would be life-changing!

Stop, look and listen to what God has to say!

• Learn to sit instead of serving all the time

The purpose of the Sabbath rest was not a religious rule to obey, but a time to recharge the batteries, both spiritually and physically and give time to the things of God. Martha carried on serving when she could have done some sitting, but that was not her priority when there were jobs to do. Mary did not sit to be waited on, but something that Jesus was teaching got her attention and she wanted to hear more.

It is interesting that the Bible states Jesus has, ‘Made us sit together in the heavenly places’ (Ephesians 2:6). The purpose is, ‘To show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us.’

While it is important for every Christian to have a role and serve within the local church, we all need sitting time too. Not just during the preaching, but in our own personal quiet times with the Lord. Sitting leads to rest which in turn will lead to revelation!

• Learn to stay silent instead of criticising those we think are not pulling their weight

Martha let rip and made two accusations. Firstly, she accused Jesus of not caring about her. Secondly, that Mary had left her to serve all alone. ‘Therefore tell her to help me!’

See how gracious Jesus was in His reply. ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things’. He could have snapped straight back at her, but chose to defuse the situation, and then defended Mary. ‘One thing is needed’ and at that moment, it was not food! Jesus commended Mary for choosing what was good, which would not be taken away from her.

I wonder if Martha blushed with embarrassment at Jesus’ gentle rebuke, and if Martha sat down too! A lot of preaching is nothing more than criticism, usually of those not present, but not always. Jesus said, ‘Feed My sheep and lambs’.⁶ Give them the Word and let the Word change people for the better.

• Learn to realise the spiritual is much more important that the natural

Jesus, when overcoming the devil’s temptation said, ‘It is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4).

The food Martha was serving needed to be replaced the very next day and every day after that, but Mary could live spiritually every day on the words Jesus was teaching. Many Christians are still feeding on scriptures they learnt years previously, drawing strength and inspiration from them. This is because God’s Word is living.⁷ When we remind ourselves of God’s promises, the power of those words release strength, hope and peace within.

Yes, Jesus would move on to other homes and places, but the words He taught in Martha and Mary’s house would live on until the day they died!

Endnotes:

¹ Deuteronomy 30:19              ² Joshua 24:15             ³ 2 Kings 5:8-37           ⁴ John 11:38-44

⁵ Luke 19:1-10             ⁶ John 21:15-17           ⁷ Hebrews 4:12