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Week 23: July 17-23

Choose the Good Portion

Luke 10:41-42

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.”

There are many small stories in the Gospels that seem out of place and insignificant. Every time we read God’s Word, we need to read it with the understanding that all of God’s Word is powerful and purposeful. We also need to be careful not to read it through our context but seek to understand what was going on in that time and in that moment. The story of Mary and Martha is not simply a story of two bickering sisters tossed into the narrative of Christ. I believe Christ intended it to point out a very real issue. The issue of where to place our time and effort.

The basic story goes like this: Martha invites Jesus into their home. Martha is working. Mary is listening to Jesus and not working. Martha gets mad at Mary, and asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. Jesus speaks into Martha’s life!

Here is a little background to the story. Jesus, Mary, and Martha have a pretty good relationship. John 11 gives a nice window into their connection. Mary and Martha are sisters of Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead. Mary was the woman who poured expensive ointment on Jesus’ feet and washed them with her hair. John 11:5 says, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” So they know each other. This is why Martha is so open with Jesus and reveals how she really feels in the situation.

Here is what is really going on. Martha gets agitated that she is doing all the work and Mary is not helping her. She gets so upset that she asks Jesus if he even cares that she is doing all the work. Asking Jesus if he cares? Ironic! Then she appeals to Jesus to ask Mary to start helping. Jesus cuts right to the heart of the matter. He points out two realities: (1) Martha is anxious about many things. (2) There is only one thing that is necessary. The one thing that is necessary is listening and worshiping Christ. Mary is doing that. But Martha has elevated daily things to the same importance as listening and worshiping Christ.

I don’t believe Christ is pointing out sin or a wrong action on Martha’s part. Christ is pointing out a wrong thought pattern in Martha’s mind. She is placing the same value on daily life tasks as communing with Jesus. Or possibly, she is even placing a higher value on getting ready for the meal, because she wanted to pull Mary away from Jesus to accomplish it.

How do we apply this? Kids, this doesn’t mean Christ is devaluing household chores. But do we equate our daily tasks with our time in prayer and Bible reading? Are we so busy with our tasks that we neglect time with Christ? The key phrase is at the end of verse 42, “it will not be taken away from her.” Jesus points out that what Mary is doing is eternal. All of the things we do in our day are temporal unless they are about Christ. Reading God’s Word, praying, or telling others about God are the only eternal things we have.

Pray Together

  1. Pray that God helps you view your time communing with Him and telling others about Him as the most important and eternal thing you will do every day.
  2. Pray that God will create an opportunity for a Gospel conversation this week.
  3. Pray that God will develop in you a heart of prayer and dependence on Him.
Posted by Rob Fipps with