The Necessary Thing
This is about you and me. This is for male or female…the question is are you Mary or Martha? These verses bring us to the searching question: What are your priorities?
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”” Luke 10:38-42
Martha wanted to have the food and drink just right. She wanted to serve the food in a manner which pleased the eye. It’s possible she was seeking praise for being a fabulous hostess. Her sister Mary sat before Jesus and listened.
Martha saw this and became indignant. It was unfair. She was doing all the work-Mary just sat before Jesus listening. Two people-sisters-two entirely different views.
Consider these sisters and how they chose to respond, then apply it to our everyday lives. Then contemplate the counsel of Jesus: “…But one thing is necessary.”
In life we can be a Martha-concerned about appearance…concerned about the opinions of others…concerned about doing. You know what? Martha was distracted…distracted by doing life. We can become distracted-just as Martha was…distracted by doing life. She believed what she was doing was “necessary.”
Mary had a life too. She illustrates the other response we can make to life. How does Jesus describe it again? He called it the “necessary thing.”
Look at it this way…you and I can choose between two “necessary things.” We can make living life about acquiring possessions, building wealth, increasing our standing with others, doing everything just right. You know be Martha.
Which again leads to that question…What is the necessary thing?
Mary knew. She had a life too…but…she sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to Him.
One question leads to another.
This may be the most important of all.
“Why is listening to Jesus the one thing which is necessary?”
This question no one can ignore.