Scripture: “But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:42
Examination of Chapter: In this section of Luke 10, Jesus is visiting the household of Lazarus. As a good hostess, Martha is busy attending to the needs of the guests, but Mary has chosen to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to Him. This action disturbs Martha, who asks Jesus to tell Mary to assist her in serving the guests. Jesus then responds by telling Martha that, while being concerned about the household and her guests is admirable, what Mary has chosen to do is much more important.
Application: Martha is not being chastised for caring for her guests, but Jesus is explaining the importance of spending time with Him above all else. In her time, the custom was that the women greeted guests, washed their feet, prepared the food, and managed the household, displaying hospitality to the visitors. Martha was not doing anything wrong. In fact, most likely she wanted Jesus to remind Mary of her duties as a woman. While many read this passage as a rebuke, I believe Jesus responded gently to Martha, using this as a teaching moment, to emphasize the urgency of making time to be in His presence over all other things.
Christians often state (myself included) that they cannot wait to see God… to be in the presence of Jesus, yet they struggle to find an hour to be with Him now. I had to ask myself, “How can I claim to want to spend an eternity with God, but do not find the time to be with Him here?” It isn’t a struggle to find time to do what I want to do. I always find time to read an interesting book, scroll through social media, or watch a television program, yet dedicating time to spend with God is sometimes elusive. So, the question posed above really caused me to do some serious soul-searching.
When I think about what I am doing, I find I can be very busy doing “His work”, so much that I forget about the quiet time I need to be at His feet. I work in children’s ministries and interpret services at church, I write my blogs, and pray for others, BUT when do I stop and sit at the feet of Jesus and simply listen to what He has to say to me?
Ah, that is the key point that Jesus was trying to make to Martha. All those acts of service are wonderful and often necessary, but they aren’t more important than making the time to be with the Saviour. Service doesn’t draw me closer to God, in fact, it can actually draw me farther away when I omit my quiet time with Him. James 4:8 states, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.”
Matthew 6:33 reminds us to seek God first in our lives. When the Lord gave Moses the Ten Commandments, the first four focused on our relationship with God. Exodus 20 records the importance of making time with God our priority, then acting upon the things we need to do in our lives. If your heart is not desiring time with God, you may need some reviving with spiritual CPR.
- C – Commit to truly making God first in your life. Jesus wants each of us to sit at His feet and commune with Him. Household chores can wait; working out at the gym can wait, and even family time can wait. They’ll all be there after you’ve been refreshed at the feet of Jesus. Matthew 6:33 states, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness…”
- P – Prioritize your time as God desires. If God has a love language, I am sure it is “quality time”. Don’t just accommodate Him; be deliberate in the time you spend with God and make it meaningful. Sit at His feet and listen to Him speak to your heart as you read His Word (God speaking to you) and pray (you speaking to God). Matthew 6:6 states, “But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet…” No interruptions… leave the world outside (including your cell phone!) and focus on Jesus alone.
- R – Read the Bible every single day. Cultivate a deeper relationship with the Lord by reading His Word regularly and thoughtfully. Even one verse upon which you truly meditate daily can begin to grow a closer bond between you and Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” It is His words that will guide us each day as it states in Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
When we lack certain nutrients in our diet, our bodies begin to crave them. The same is for our soul. Let us never find our spirit starving for the Lord. Be as David, when he writes in Psalm 63:1, “O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is;” Let us all purpose in our hearts to seek Him now, while He may be found (Isaiah 55:6).
Memory verse: “Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.” – 1 Chronicles 16:11