LUKE 10: 38-42

Ever so often I find myself revisiting this passage of the holy writ recorded for us by Luke, the physician and gospel writer. It tells about two sisters, Martha and Mary, and their differences in personality and how they responded to life and to the Master. From the outset, it must be pointed out and observed that Martha was not sinful, just a little bit too busy and cumbered. In fact, Jesus made this abundantly clear when He lovingly reprimanded her, declaring, “. . . Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10: 41, 42). Certainly, as I read, the illumination comes that He was not just addressing Martha, but so many of us and “me” in particular. So often, in fact, too often I find myself “careful and troubled about many things” instead of resting and learning and sitting in awe and adoration at the feet of Jesus. I pray, Father, help me to be preoccupied with the “one thing needful.” So many of us are affected and infected by the Martha syndrome.

She was literally dragged about and consumed by domestic issues of hospitality and etiquette. She was concerned about the cosmetics. For her, everything had to be just right. After all, it was Jesus she was entertaining, and she wanted to be the perfect hostess. It seemed to have bothered her when things and people were not in their right places.

We have some people like that today; they will miss church Sunday after Sunday because they have to be in the kitchen, serving. We have some treasurers like that, who can’t be in church or in the church service because they are too busy counting the money. Money is important to the operation of the church, but! We’ve got some musicians like that,’ they are so busy playing music for us that they forget to worship, and when the praise and worship is done, they walk out. Sometimes, we as preachers are so busy finding sermons that we forget to apply the Word to our own lives and sit prayerfully and devotionally at His feet to intentionally feed our own souls.

Like many of us, Martha wanted to make sure that everybody was catered to and cared for. She carried the weight of “busyness,” but not only was she busy, but she was also fussing about it, fretting and complaining. She was even somehow irritated with Jesus for not seeing with her and not scolding Mary like she wanted (v.40). She wanted Mary to be like her. Martha became a little bit unhinged and unbalanced.

Mary, on the other hand, remained ever so calm, cool, and collected, at the feet of Jesus, learning, worshipping, praying, digesting, and ingesting. Mary had it right! She remained unfazed and focused, centered and anchored. She deliberately chose to put and push distractions away. She calmly, deliberately chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His Word (v. 39). She avowed and confessed by her actions that everything else could wait and be postponed. Sitting at His feet in prayerful devotion and contemplation was of supreme importance to her. Her decision was highly endorsed and commended by Jesus (v.42). Mary had it right! Let’s not get so busy and misguided. It is imperative for our growth and development to conscientiously and deliberately spend time at the feet of Jesus!