As Jesus traveled, He came to Bethany where He visited with Mary, Martha and their brother, Lazarus. While Jesus was teaching in their home, Mary sat at the feet of Jesus and listened. Martha, how- ever, was “cumbered about with much serving.” She came to Jesus and asked him to have Mary help her serve.
Instead of Jesus honoring her request, He answered and said, “Martha, Martha, thou art troubled about many things. But one thing is needful and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41,42)
This is the only negative thing the Bible reveals about Martha, while there are many good things she said and did, especially in connection with the death and resurrection of her brother, Lazarus (John 11:1-45).
From this one negative, there are positive lessons to be learned. First, Martha should have been more concerned with the spiritual than with the physical. Centuries later, we are still in need of learning that lesson and applying it to ourselves. We are to put God first in our lives and love Him more than any human or anything else.
A second lesson we can learn from this incident is to realize our many blessings and appreciate them. If you had lived back in the days of Mary and Martha, wouldn’t you have loved the opportunity to personally hear Jesus teach? So seize whatever opportunities you have to do God’s will today. May you, like Mary, make the right choice -- choose the “good part which shall not be taken away.”
- Avis Corely Porter; via Magnolia Messenger, a publication of the South Huntington St. Church of Christ in Kosciusko, MS; Volume 35 Number 3; Fall 2013; p 21.
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