March 20
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Word. But Martha was distracted with much serving and she approached Him and said, ‘Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.’ And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her,’” Luke 10:38-42.
The evangelist Luke reports that Jesus entered a certain village. From elsewhere in Scripture, we know that Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived in Bethany. Whether they were living somewhere else at this time, we do not know, and it is not important. Jesus had a special relationship with this family. Luke reports that Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. It appears that Martha was in charge. Martha played the role of a good hostess. She was very concerned about serving a wonderful meal for her Lord. For that, she should be commended. Her problem was that she did not have her priorities straight.
Mary sat at Jesus’ feet to hear what He had to say. Jesus did not speak just to say something, as a lot of people do; some talk just to say something, while others talk because they really have something to say. Mary attentively sat at Jesus’ feet because she wanted to learn from her Lord.
Both of them were pleased to have Jesus in their home. Here is a lesson for us to learn: Jesus should be the welcomed Guest in our homes. He should be the Guest at our tables when we eat. He should be the silent Listener to every conversation. His Word should be the guide for all of our planning. His Word should direct our thinking and our speaking. Like Mary, we should gladly sit at Jesus’ feet in our home to hear what He has to say.
Martha, like a hostess often does, got carried away with the cooking and the baking and the household chores. She was aggravated by her sister Mary sitting around and doing nothing. It bothered her to the point that she came to Jesus and asked Him whether He did not care that Mary was just sitting around and doing nothing. She suggested that Jesus should tell Mary to get up and help with the work!
Then Jesus had something to say to Martha, and Mary heard it, too, and so should we! He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” In summary, Jesus was saying, “Keep first things first! Be concerned about your faith!” Yes, we need to provide for both soul and body, but the care of the soul should come first. Look to Jesus who provides for both. Trust Him as your Savior who has redeemed you from sin, death, and the devil. Cling to Him for forgiveness, and then trust that He will provide the bodily necessities also.
“Oh, blest the house, what-e’er befall,
where Jesus Christ is all in all!
Yea, if He were not dwelling there,
How dark and poor and void it were.
Then here will I and mine today
A solemn covenant make and say:
Though all the world forsake Thy Word,
I and my house will serve the Lord.” Amen.