Choosing the Good Part

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.

Luke 10: 38-42

Jesus had just sent out seventy men, in pairs, to go “into every city and place, whither he himself would come.” He gave them explicit instructions on their mission and their conduct and trusted the “preaching” of the kingdom into their hand (Luke 10: 1-16).

Upon their return they were very joyful with the outcome. “Lord, even the devils are subject unto us through thy name,” they exclaimed. Jesus too was thankful and rejoiced. He reminded them, however, that their true rejoicing should not be in that the spirits were in subjection to them. But their rejoicing should be in that their names were written in heaven.

Jesus furthermore states:

For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

Luke 10: 24

In the context of this timeframe, Jesus departs and enters into a certain village. This was not happenstance. Jesus always went with a purpose in mind. The scripture says that “a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.” Again not just any woman. But Martha in particular. Jesus was practicing exactly what He had just admonished his disciples to do (Luke 10: 8-9). As Jesus entered this certain city and this certain home of this certain woman, He was warmly received. It appears from the passage that Jesus was preparing to have a meal in this house.

However, Jesus had more in mind than just eating a meal. He, himself, was feeding the Word to souls in need. Only Mary was prepared to partake. Mary, Martha’s sister, was sitting at the feet of Jesus hearing His word. She was very content. She appeared to be very receptive. She was so interested that she left serving and just sat at his feet.

The scripture goes on to state that Martha, on the other hand, was “cumbered about much serving.” Ask yourself, how would you feel if you were Martha and you were serving and saw your sister just sitting there not serving? The natural tendency is to think that Martha’s problem was with her sister not serving. She does go on to say that “she came to him, and said Lord dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?” This may have been a problem but it wasn’t the source of her problem. The source lies in the word cumbered. That word means “to hamper or hinder” or “to obstruct.” If you look at how the wording is phrased, her serving was what was hampering her or hindering her. There was an obstruction because of “much serving.” In other words words, she was serving but she was being hindered in her life for Christ because she was focusing on the serving in not wholly on the Lord. Mary had something that she didn’t have and that was at the root of Martha’s statement to Jesus.

Jesus addresses the issue when he states:

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 had many admirable qualities. She received Jesus into her house; she served Jesus; she was very industrious; she was also hospitable. On the surface, you could not touch her love and devotion to Jesus. However, she was lacking one thing … and it was needful. How many of us who “serve” Jesus act more like Martha than Mary. On the surface, we are working hard for Jesus. We attend the services; we give our tithe and offering; we sing in the choir, or teach, or work with the youth or even preach; we give to missions; we may even work at the soup kitchen. We are not shy to tell people that we are Christians and tell them of our beliefs. Our children can quote memory verses. We may lead a men’s or women’s small group study or give to the homeless every time we see someone in need.

These are all good and admirable qualities. But how many of us are like Martha where we are so focused on those things that we don’t take care of that one thing that is needful. Sometimes those “works” can actually be a coverup for what is really lacking on the inside – whether it be a void or even sin. Some people work hard to present a “powerful” christian image, yet there is an obstruction on the inside. Something that is keeping one from sitting at the feet of Jesus. Sin, selfishness or even insecurities left unchecked can be a hinderance from us finding solitude with Christ.

I can’t say that Martha had sin in her life. However, I can say that Jesus pinpointed a need in her heart that exposed her being careful and troubled about many things. Jesus loved Martha (John 11: 5). His revealing her need was not to tear her down. On the contrary, He wanted that need to be filled. If she could just let go and be still, her need would be met.

Mary, on the other hand, knew the true secret of lasting services to Christ. She “sat at Jesus’s feet, and heard His word.” How oftentimes do we either think that that is a waste of time or we are just too busy. Most of the time, the enemy of our souls capitalizes on either our apathy or our busyness to keep us from having that “good part.” There are too many distractions in this day and age and some distractions even appear to be service oriented. However, like Mary we have a choice. We can either become cumbered about; entangled in the snares of this word. We can allow ourselves to be captive to our own service. Or we, like Mary, can choose to lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily besets us and we run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus … (Hebrews 12: 1-2).

Mary was actually in the race while sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha was struggling in the race. Her weights were holding her back. She was expending a lot of energy. However, she was going nowhere … fast. Jesus wanted and needed her in the race and running as strongly as she could.

Where are we? … or who are we likened unto? Are we Martha or are we Mary? Have we cast all of our care upon him for He careth for us (1 Peter 5:14)? Or are we still entangled in the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5: 1)? Are we running or are we on the side lines watching … yet to enter into the race? Are we professing a Christian experience or do we have a true relationship with Jesus Christ? What part are we choosing?