The Better Choice
TRANSLATION
(38) Now as Jesus and his disciples went on their way, they entered a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her house. (39) And she had a sister named Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his words. (40) But Martha was distracted with all the preparations for dinner. She came to him and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister left me to do the work alone? Tell her to help me!” (41) But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, (42) but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
OBSERVATIONS
In this brief but poignant account which described Jesus visiting the home of two sisters, repetitions included “Martha” (once each in vss. 38, 40, & twice in vs. 41), “Mary” (vss. 39 & 42), “sister” (vss. 39 & 40), and “servve/serving” (vs. 40). Luke contrasted how each sister treated Jesus and how he, in turn, responded to them.
The older sister, Martha, who “welcomed” Jesus and apparently owned the home, was “distracted with much serving.” She then complained to him about Mary because her sister had not done anything to help her prepare and serve the meal. Mary, “sitting at the Lord’s feet,” had become so engrossed in their conversation that she had neglected to help with all that was absorbing Martha. Jesus praised Mary for having “chosen what is better,” gently rebuking Martha for being “anxious and troubled about many things.”
OUTLINE
I. Martha and Mary both treated Jesus in accordance with their unique personalities. (38-40)
II. Jesus responded to each according to their unique needs. (41 & 42)
IDEA STATEMENT
We please the Lord more by seeking to deepen our relationship with him rather than attempting to do things for him.
APPLICATION
Those who study human nature tend to categorize people in overly simplistic terms. In the cases of Martha and Mary, we could use contrastive terms such as “active vs. passive” or “doer vs. dreamer” to describe each one’s behavior. In this classic clash of personalities, Jesus ended up in the middle of a family argument, commending the sister who might have frustrated us had she been a member of our own family.
Mary was more concerned about being with Jesus than serving Jesus, a pattern of behavior all of us would do well to emulate. The one who created the universe and redeemed us from our sins lacks nothing apart from fellowship with those with whom he desires a growing intimacy. If we, like Martha, spend our efforts trying to impress him with our service rather than devoting ourselves to deepening our relationship with him, we are in danger of missing out on what he wants most for us, namely, himself. While Martha made sure that everyone had enough to eat, Mary opened her heart to all that Jesus wanted to give her. How much better to act like Mary when it comes to relating to Jesus!