|
LUKE 10:38-42 38) Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. 39) And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word. 40) But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41) And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42) But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. |
Martha was over-occupied with much serving. How busy she was in her service
for the Lord, running around and doing this and that! Mary sat at the feet of
Jesus, listening to Him speak. She quietly remained there seeking to become
better acquainted with her Guest, building a sweet relationship and fellowship
with Him. Martha, however, had no time for this. Wouldn't the Lord be so pleased
with all of her activity? "And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha,
Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is
needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away
from her" (Luke 10:41-42).
MARTHA |
MARY |
| LUKE 10:38-42 | LUKE 10:38-42 |
| Martha was SERVING | Mary was SITTING |
| Martha was WORRYING | Mary was WORSHIPPING |
| Martha was HURRYING | Mary was HEARING |
| Martha was busy with the WORK | Mary was attentive to the WORD |
| Martha was troubled about many things | Mary was concerned about one thing |
| Martha was trying to UNDERTAKE | Mary was trying to UNDERSTAND |
| Martha was OVER-OCCUPIED | Mary was OCCUPIED WITH CHRIST |
| Martha was LABORING | Mary was LEARNING and LOVING |
| Martha was ENERGETIC | Mary was ENJOYING the Lord |
| Martha was BUSY and BOTHERED | Mary was BLESSED |
Are you a "Mary-like" disciples of the Lord Jesus? In a "Martha world" (so busy and hectic) we need to have a "Mary heart." May God give us Mary's heart to adore; Martha's hands to serve.
|
Martha in the kitchen,
serving with her hands; Mary
on the footstool, eyes upon her Lord; So may we, like Mary, choose the better
part: When it comes, we're ready--spirit, will, and
nerve; --Lois Reynolds Carpenter |
In every pertinent passage, Mary is found at her Saviour's feet:
|
Luke 10:39--And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his Word. John 11:32--Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying unto Him, "Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died." John 12:3--Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment. |
"But one thing is needful" (Luke 10:42).
Martha was caught up with "many things" (Luke
10:41).
Mary was lovingly occupied with "one thing" (Luke 10:42).
Are you a "one thing" believer?
David was a "one thing" believer:
ONE THING have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of m y life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to inquire in His temple. Psalm 27:4.
Paul was a "one thing" believer:
Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended; but this ONE THING I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God ion Christ Jesus.
In the Christian life, the Lord Jesus Christ is not to be one thing among many things. He is not part of our life; HE IS OUR LIFE! Col. 3:3-4; Phil. 1:21; Gal. 2:20. He is the very hub, the center. In all things, He is to have first place (Col. 1:18).
--George W. Zeller (July 2000; revised November 2006)
| The Middletown Bible Church 349 East Street Middletown, CT 06457 (860) 346-0907 |