As women, God made us to nurture and care for our family and our home. We serve to meet the physical needs of our loved ones. We show hospitality by opening our homes to guests. These are wonderful acts that God instructs us to do, but God also expects us to prioritize our time and efforts to the one thing that is most needful in our lives.
The account of Mary and Martha is a good example of how we can become so focused on our serving that we lose sight of the One to whom we claim to serve.
Luke 10:38-42 “Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, 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.”
Martha was hospitable and desired to meet the physical needs of her guests. She opened her home, which is a gracious and humbling act in itself. Opening our home to guests is allowing others to get a glimpse of how we live. However, even though Martha did this humble and kind act, she quickly lost sight of Jesus. Her attention shifted from His presence to her busy tasks.
Mary’s focus was where it should have been. Jesus was teaching and Mary sat at His feet to hear Him. Martha was cumbered about, which means she was distracted and not really focusing on her guests, (Jesus). She did not go to Mary directly but instead, in her frustration, she interrupted Jesus while He was teaching. This was a bold move… interrupting Jesus Christ while He was teaching to complain about her sister?! Wow.
Jesus’s response to Martha was a serious yet soft rebuke. He repeated her name to bring her attention to Himself, and then corrected her behavior. All the physical needs that Martha was trying to tend to were not needful. Jesus said, “one thing is needful”.
Psalms 27:4 “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in his temple.”
What was motivating Martha’s good works? Was it really Jesus? Mary’s decision to stop and listen to Jesus was the needful thing. She chose the good part that will not be taken away!
Ladies, our lives can become so busy with responsibilities at home, work, church, and other activities. These are not necessarily bad things, they are typically good things, but what about the ONE thing? Are your good works being motivated by your love for Jesus? Are you being guided by His Word in your works? Are you opening your Bible and sitting at the feet of Jesus? Are you listening as He teaches? It is the Word of God that sanctifies you to fulfill His priorities in your life. Are you choosing the good part?
In Times Like These 