The Good Part (Luke 10:38-42)

by J.M. Lindsay, Edinburgh, U.K. | Category: General | Dec 1983

Apart from the family home in Nazareth, there appear to have been only two homes to which the Lord was a frequent visitor. One was Simon Peter's home in Capernaum and the other was the home of Martha, Mary and Lazarus in Bethany. The Bethany home was one where He always found a loving welcome. Such visits were never the occasion for idle conversation; how could they be with the Son of God incarnate as a guest? Each moment was precious as the great divine Visitor shared with these people, whose love He fully reciprocated, the words and purposes of His heavenly Father. The story of one of His last visits holds an important lesson for those who love Him today'.

As Martha, probably the elder of the two sisters and a very conscientious person, busied herself with preparations for the forthcoming meal, Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus drinking in His every word. It was always the grateful and appreciative people who were to be found at Jesus' feet. These included Jairus, whose daughter was raised from death by Jesus, the sinner woman who found her way into the house of Simon the Pharisee, the restored demoniac, the Samaritan leper and others. That Mary adored and was devoted to Jesus is beyond question, and when in His presence she lost track of time and her responsibilities. It was hardly surprising that Martha felt a sense of injustice, but, in her exasperation, she expressed it in an unfortunate way.

"Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me". The first few words were similar to those used by the disciples when they thought they were going to perish in the storm on Galilee's lake ("Carest Thou not that we perish"), and they were spoken in a rather reproachful way. It was an accusation of indifference, but had Martha understood her Lord and His purposes more fully she would never have spoken in the way she did.

Jesus' reply was gracious yet direct. "Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: for Mary hath chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

"One thing is needful," He said, and that one thing is food for the soul, which even takes precedence over food for the body. Mary satisfied her spiritual hunger by devouring every good word spoken by the one who described himself as the Bread of Life. What Martha was engaged in was laudable and necessary,

but she had got her priorities wrong; she was preoccupied with service and had left no time just to sit at the Master's feet. Martha had not chosen a bad part, but Mary had certainly chosen a better part. A day would soon come when Martha would regret that she had not spent more time sitting at Jesus' feet. Time spent there is invaluable.

It is vital today that Christians have their priorities right. There is much to be done in service for the Master and the labourers are so few. We all need to share the burden of service. All too often most of the work is being done by the few, who need to be particularly careful not to become cumbered about much serving. That happens when people are so burdened with responsibility that the vital daily communion becomes neglected; the quiet time becomes dispensable. The result is no joy in service and oftentimes no blessing either. If we are going to be effective Christians in the world today, service is important, but sitting at the Master's feet is vital. Time must be set aside for that, it must become an inviolable part of daily routine. Many find it helpful to rise earlier in the morning, perhaps before others in the house are stirring, and it goes without saying that there is no better way to start the day.

Mary had her priorities right, no doubt about that, but perhaps little would be accomplished if all were "Marys" and there were no "Marthas" today. A ~end of Mary's undiluted devotion and Martha's practical diligence is what God looks for in our lives.

Above all, don't miss out on the "good part".

J.M. Lindsay, Edinburgh, U.K. | Dec 1983
General