Luke 10:38-42: The choice morsel.(please click here)

Martha tends to get a bad press in the church, but the first thing to notice about her is that she ‘welcomed’ Jesus into her house (38). That’s a lovely thing to do. She was hospitable. Some people leave Jesus ‘at church’. They don’t welcome Him into their houses and every day lives; into their domestic circumstances. But Martha wanted Jesus at her table with the rest of the family. Like the Samaritan (25-37) she had a heart to give and to serve. She was kind.

BUT a good thing can become a bad thing; or, at least, it can be done in a wrong way. Your strength, ironically, can become a weakness.We discover that ‘Martha was distracted by much serving’ (40). You might say that serving was an ‘over- strength’. Many leaders in the church ( but this is by no means limited to pastors, preachers and the like) will admit, if they are honest, that they are so busy, time for prayer gets pushed out and is at a bare minimum. Their serving (a good thing) distracts them from sitting at Jesus’ feet (the better part). I once read in a leadership book that because of over-busyness some Christians experience what some deodorants offer – an all day dryness! ‘Beware of the barrenness of a busy life’, the author counselled. But a busy life doesn’t have to be barren. Jesus came as the Servant of the LORD. He gave His life, but He would not allow fellowship with the Father to be given the crumbs of His schedule. Read the gospels and you will see that prayer had priority in His life; even if that meant early mornings and all night sessions. He served much, but without distraction. I was thinking earlier today that if the story of the generous Samaritan teaches the virtue of servanthood, this next section balances things up, showing how serving , though good and right, can get out of balance. Martha served with distraction, but Jesus served with devotion, and He is our pattern.

Jesus said about Mary that she had ‘chosen the good portion’ (42). I seem to remember reading that this referred to the choice morsel, the best part of the dish. There is no substitute for sitting at the feet of Jesus, and what you receive directly from Him will ‘not be taken away’ from you. Some may ridicule you, or doubt you; they may think you deluded and say that you are mad. But if Jesus really has spoken to you, no-one will argue you out of it, and His word will surely come to pass.

Somebody observed that really Martha and Mary ‘belong together in the service of our Lord.’ That’s a good point. Let’s not drive a wedge between them. The best and most effective service flows from being at Jesus’ feet. He is Lord. Let Him hand you your work roster.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, make it my joy and desire to sit at your feet and be teachable.