"what is better...."

Luke 10:38-42

At the Home of Martha and Mary 
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

I drove my son back to college today.  As I drove, I listened to a book on cd - Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World.  As I listened, Jesus' words kept coming back to me.   "Mary has chosen what is better, and It will not be taken away from her."


Poor Martha, in her world of work, and stress, and worry...was missing the better part.  The part about relationship.  The part about paying attention, listening, giving attention.  The part about drawing closer to her Jesus.  I can totally relate to her frustration with Mary.  "Why Lord, why must I do the work by myself?  Why isn't anyone helping me?"  But maybe, like Martha, I am too focused on the work and the worry...and not focused enough on my Jesus.

I went on a mission trip a couple summers ago to an Indian reservation.  I loved my time there serving the people of the community.  Our Bible study that week focused on "more of Jesus and less of me."  How quickly I forgot those lessons.  More of Jesus...less of me...choosing what is better....Jesus? Or me and my petty frustrations?

Will I choose to go about the busyness of my day?  Or to sit at His feet and take in what He has to say?  Will I focus on me?  Or what He has to offer, what He will provide...what He wants from me?  Will I choose what is better?  Will you?