The Lord and his disciples were traveling along and came to a village. When they got there, a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat down in front of the Lord and was listening to what he said. Martha was worried about all that had to be done. Finally, she went to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn't it bother you that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to come and help me!”
The Lord answered, “Martha, Martha! You are worried and upset about so many things, but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is best, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
The two sisters, Mary and Martha teach us much about what is important in our relationship to Jesus. Martha invited Jesus into her home but was worried about all the work that had to be done to properly entertain Jesus as a guest. Mary simply sat in front of Jesus and listened to Him!
When Martha complained and asked for Jesus to help in getting Mary to work with her the Lord spoke to Martha's misplaced priorities and ours as well. Jesus said, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is necessary."
Make a list, or at least a mental list of all the things that worry and upset you. For some that list may be fairly short, but for others it is really long. That list may include your own health or the health of a loved one, your job, the economy of your nation, the world, or even your own lack of funds, the prospect of war, a persistent drought and the frightening possibility that there may be a famine in your land, and many others.
Jesus told Martha that "only one thing is necessary." That one thing is the thing that Mary chose. Mary placed herself in front of Jesus and listened to what He said. That is the one thing Jesus says is necessary. Worrying and being upset about all the other things is not necessary.
As you go through this day sort out the times that you are being like Martha and busily working and worrying about things that are not necessary. Then list the times that you are sitting in front of Jesus and listening to Him. Here is the good news about being like Mary. It is impossible to sit in front of Jesus and listen to His voice and at the same time be worried and upset. So if you find yourself worried and upset about many things, stop and sit down in front of Jesus and listen for His voice!
"Dear Jesus, I have been worried and upset about so many things, even good things. But I want to be like Mary and not like Martha. Help me to sit quietly in Your presence today and listen to the Words that come from Your mouth! Today I want to do THE NECESSARY THING! Amen."
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