Better

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF LUKE

BETTER

Luke 10:38-42

38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" 41 "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." 

NIV

Although there has been many sermons preached on the truth within this passage, the truth is still the truth and it bears our continued attention. Whether this event occurred when Luke records it or later as some of the other Gospels put it, the truth of the lesson remains the same. Was this the first time Jesus ever met Martha and Mary? We know at some time Lazarus, their brother dies, which Jesus allows to happen, since he was told Lazarus was sick and did not go until he died. This was so he could raise him from the grave, showing his power over death. So what is the truth we know about this situation between Mary, Martha and Jesus? Certainly the idea that Martha was so intent on doing the acts of service we would think most preachers, pastors rather, would want to focus on Martha as an example of how we the people of the church should be serving Jesus as well. But it seems that is not the case in most incidences. The focus seems to always be on Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to his every word. Yet it does seem that many pastors do in some sense, perhaps without knowing it, focus on the acts of service of Martha. The constant call for volunteers to do acts of service within the church would indicate that Martha is the right example. But Jesus says Mary is the right example. We cannot escape the fact that we should be serving our Lord, but to be so focused on acts of service that we cannot find time to sit at the feet of Jesus, may result in Jesus telling we are worried and upset about many things, but we need to be spending more time at his feet listening to his every word. There is another aspect of these acts of service rather than sitting at his feet. We can get so involved in living the Christian life, being so concerned about all the rules and regulations, the law in essence, all the things we should not be doing, and all the things we should be doing, making our life one of routines and rituals, even in our prayers that we forget to spend time at his feet. Jesus told Martha, the doer, Mary has chosen that which is better, being a listener of his words. Mary was infatuated with Jesus, she was star-stuck with him, and she could not leave his feet, hanging onto every one of his words. Mary had a passion Jesus, which it seems Martha was missing, as it appears her passion was on doing things, being the right kind of host, etc. Should we not also focus on what Jesus considers better? Would not our passion for Jesus result in our being more Christ-like, which in turn would result in our living in a manner which pleases God? Would this not also result in our doing something for him, for the kingdom, which than would be acts of service? Could we not be better off seeing them as acts of love, or a passion for Jesus? But then all our acts would be for Jesus and not so we looked like we are a good Christian. It seems the truth is in the attitudes of Martha and Mary. Martha was focused on acts, Mary was focused on Jesus. That is the better and if we focus on Jesus, it will not be taken from us.