Anchor My Faith

Choose the Good Portion

Scripture: Luke 10:41-42

In the previous lesson we find Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to his teaching and Martha distracted with much serving. I believe Martha would like to hear what Jesus was teaching, but since this was her home, she felt responsible to be a proper host. This conflict of desires results in anxiety and then a sudden outburst that interrupts the teaching of Jesus with a request for him to tell Mary to get up and help her with her work. It appears that Martha has allowed her serving to become more important to her than being with Jesus. Her focus has shifted from Jesus to her service as she is not serving out of love but out of a felt need.

^{Lk 10:41} “But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”’

Jesus responds with special tenderness as he says, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.” Mary chose not to help Martha with household duties and instead to sit at the feet of Jesus and learn from him and enjoy his presence. Her focus was Jesus not household duties.  Martha chose to put household duties before time with Jesus which resulted in her judgment of Mary and her state of irritation.

Think about how “our desire for the cares and riches and pleasures of life hinders our fruit from maturing” (Luke 8:14). Martha allowed “cares” to distract her from enjoying Jesus and hearing his instruction. We are not to be “anxious about our life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing” (Luke 12:22 – 23). Martha was anxious about food that was needed for her guest and saw that as more important at the time than sitting at the feet of Jesus and enjoying his presence.

With tenderness, Jesus redirects Martha’s focus to that which is necessary. This is the time Jesus chose to teach and this is the time for everyone to listen and learn. When that is done Mary can help you and when only what is necessary is ready everything will be fine.

Throughout the Old Testament we find reference to the importance of fellowship with the Lord as the greatest possession one can have: Psalm 16:5 ESV: “The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup.”; Psalm 27:4 ESV: “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.”; Psalm 73:26 ESV: “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”; Psalm 119:57 ESV: “The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.”; and Psalm 142:5 ESV: “I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”’

This is what Mary has chosen. Jesus was ready to teach; therefore, it was time to sit at his feet and learn, not the time to maybe check Facebook or engage in other forms of distraction. Jesus made it clear that Mary is not to be distracted now. There is a time for everything, but now is the time to sit and learn and enjoy a love relationship with Jesus.

Conclusion

Is Jesus ready to teach you and are you willing to sit with him and learn or do you allow yourself to be distracted and thus lose your daily portion provided by him. Is your spiritual growth in becoming conformed into the image of Jesus being compromised because of your distractions? If so, the day you stand in the presence of God may be with shame and regret.