The Good Part

 

Have you found how easily we are distracted from pure devotion to Christ?  Every day we are bombarded with urgent demands on our time and energy.  These demands may be urgent, but are they important? Have we neglected the most important thing, our relationship with Christ?  And what is the result? By focusing on the wrong things, we become worried and bothered about many things.  This reality was pictured in Luke chapter 10.

Mary, Martha, and their brother Lazarus were some of Jesus’ closest friends (John 11:5).  Martha had invited Jesus into her home and was preparing a meal for Him.  Let’s pick up the story in Luke 10:38-42

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Lk 10:38-42)

This is a familiar scene.  When hosting an event some people do more work than others.  Martha was indignant that her sister was not helping her.  She considered listening to Jesus as less important than preparing the meal.  Or maybe she just didn’t think at all.  Urgent things have that effect on us.  They demand our attention. 

As you read this story, you might assume that Jesus would turn to Mary and say, “Maybe you should help her, she seems upset.”  But He said nothing of the kind.  He addressed Martha and said, “…. You are worried and bothered about so many things.”  And He was right.  By focusing on the urgency of preparation she had become “worried and bothered”.  And maybe Jesus knew of many other things that caused her anxiety.  Maybe her agitation was more pervasive than we know. 

Those things which consume our attention tend to take over our lives.  They often become burdensome and bothersome.  When we get our eyes off Jesus and onto the pressures and problems, we get pulled under.  Jesus suggested a better way.

He told Martha that Mary had chosen the good part.  She chose to sit at His feet and learn from Him.  By putting Jesus first Mary had found the most important thing- that which was eternal.  Jesus reminded Martha that her relationship with Christ was more important than her service for Him.  We all need this reminder.  This theme is repeated in other passages:

“Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost. “Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And delight yourself in abundance. “Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you, According to the faithful mercies shown to David. (Isa 55:1-3)

We are admonished to come to Christ.  All that are thirsty will find refreshment.  Why should we expend so much effort to find satisfaction in other things?  Jesus alone offers an abundant life.  But we must incline our ear to Him and listen- just as Mary was doing.

Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.’ ” But this He spoke of the Spirit, whom those who believed in Him were to receive; for the Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified. (Jn 7:37-39)

Jesus beckons to all.  Anyone who is thirsty may come and drink.  He promises an overflowing life which satisfies and spills over to others.  He promises the Spirit to those who believe in Him.

 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.^[1]

Let’s be careful to keep Jesus the most important thing in our lives.  Let’s read His Word, and learn from Him.  Let’s avoid the things that distract us from Him.

 

 

 

 

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^[1] All passages in this post come from New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995)