Mary and Martha

Mary and Martha

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-42

Following the parable of the good Samaritan, Luke, the writer of the gospel, relates an account of the two sisters who were particular favorites of Christ. These were the two who were the sisters of Lazarus whom Christ would eventually raise from the dead in John 11. In the account before us, Christ is a guest in their home. Mary gave her full attention to Christ Himself. Martha, occupied herself with the ‘practical’ affairs of organizing the food and making other preparations. Martha grew frustrated with Mary and gave voice to that frustration by saying to Christ, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”  Christ responds, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Here is something which gives us much food for thought. Christ does not invalidate Martha’s service. He does, however, point out to her that Mary ‘has chosen that good part.’ Herein lies a matter of importance. Christ would have us occupy ourselves with Him, first and foremost. This is not a matter of rendering no service to Him, as if the two are mutually exclusive. It is a matter of priority. This is especially true for those who have dedicated their life to ‘serving God.’  We can easily become more preoccupied with what we are doing ‘for Christ,’ than with Christ Himself. Oh, that Christ would fill our eyes, our minds, and our hearts with Himself so fully that our service comes as a consequence, naturally flowing out of that Great Sight of Him.

‘Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light’

O, Gracious Savior,
We long to spend time, like Mary, at Your feet.
Continue to fill our vision full of Your Own Great Self,
that we may know You and thereafter show You to others.

 

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning