Encouragement

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"THE BETTER THING" - Luke 10:38-41

"As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said. 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!'

'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her'."

This is a passage of Scripture which may be familiar to many of us. It talks about how Jesus and His disciples visited Martha's home, which was in Bethany, near Jerusalem. Jesus loved this family and frequently visited their home (John 11:5). Martha was probably a widow and the owner of the house. By this time Jesus was being rejected by many of the Jewish people, and although it was even dangerous to entertain Him, Martha welcomed Him with open arms.

Picture the scenario: Jesus, enters the home, is greeted warmly, and sits down to rest from his travels. From the moment He walks in, Mary is drawn to Him. She is drawn to the anointing which compels her closer, until she stations herself at His feet. She feels the power of each word He speaks; she watches Him mesmerised, as words flow from His heart, into hers, because the words of Jesus are life and Spirit. (John 6:63: "The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.") And "The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Revelations 19:10). Mary sat at the Master's feet. She was not trying to ask Him for anything, or tell Him any of her problems and concerns. Her heart was open; she was listening to every word He spoke.

Martha on the other hand was the typical hostess. What she was doing was very good and needful; she knew the Lord needed food and drink, and she was probably under pressure because Jesus was an unexpected guest, and she still wanted to 'put on a good show' and give Him the best she had. We can picture her rushing around, hot and bothered, baking bread, maybe slaughtering a goat or lamb, cooking, serving, etc, and too busy to really focus on Jesus or anything He said. The Word of God tells us she was distracted by all the preparations she had to make. She could have made her honored guest feel very uncomfortable and concerned that His presence was an inconvenience - she went so far as to accuse Jesus of not caring about all the work she had to do, and complain that her sister was not helping her! She was voluntarily making an elaborate meal to impress her guests, but she was feeling sorry for herself at the same time, thinking 'poor me, no one ever helps me'. And 'I have to do all the work around here'! She was not really serving the Lord at all...

There are a few things we can learn from Martha:

1) She took a burden upon herself which was not hers to take. She really had no right to grumble to the Lord! Jesus said in Matthew 11:30 "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." God always sustains us to do the things He has called us to do.

2) She was resentful that her sister sat at the feet of Jesus and soaked in the anointed Word. It is true that there was work to do, but it was all about the choice she made. Life is frantically busy, but we have to make the right choices (however difficult) as we priorities how we spend our time. If this means we make a trade off, even a costly one, so be it. There is no gain without pain! Those costly offerings are the true sacrifices which are pleasing to the Lord.

3) It is true that Jesus and His disciples needed food and it is commendable that Martha was meeting their need; but she was exhausting herself to make an impression. She was on a futile treadmill of people pleasing, which we all have been on, but it was an empty work of the flesh. The world tells us that 'more is better', and 'big is beautiful' (!) so even in Christian ministry, we rush around trying to get 'more' done, but our works (and the number of them) are not what God is looking for. He is more concerned with seeing the heart quality of what we bring to Him; He then brings forth the quantity!

4) It is all about the attitude. Our service is not a fragrant offering to God if done resentfully or in an attitude of grumbling. The incense God receives as a pleasing offering is the heart of love and joy with which we bring it.

I want to learn from Mary:

1) She made the right choice. She listened to her heart. Her reasoning probably told her she needed to help Martha with the preparation of the meal, but her heart drew her to the eyes and voice, and the presence of Jesus, as she was riveted to His feet and drank in the power of each life giving word He spoke.

2) She stayed at the feet of Jesus. There are always a million distractions to take us away from God's presence, even once we have decided to come away and get alone with Him, including the many thoughts and 'reminders' which suddenly seem to pop up in our minds as we are focusing on the Lord. Martha was grumbling and resentful towards Mary and I believe that in addition to her words, she must have flashed some strong looks at Mary, and sighed and bustled around to make her feel guilty and cause her to get up and help! But Mary stayed where she was. If you can see your time alone with Jesus as something necessary for your survival and growth, you would never feel guilty about getting away to be alone with Him, whatever anyone says or does, or whatever distracting thoughts the enemy throws at you!

3) Mary knew how to listen. We spend too much time talking to God and telling Him what He should be doing for us! If we could simply quieten our hearts before Him humbly and listen, we would hear what He has to say, and the answers and direction we need to every pressing problem we face.

4) If we hunger and thirst for righteousness, we will be filled (Matthew 5:6); If we draw near to God He will draw near to us (James 4:8). If we seek to dwell in the secret places of the Most High, we will surely get to rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1). Jesus said to Martha that Mary had made the right choice and it would not be taken away from her. Mary was hungry for the presence of Jesus. If we truly seek the presence of God and sincerely long to stay at His feet, and be held close to His heart, God will make it possible for us in terms of time and space, regardless of our schedules. It is all about choosing the better thing!

Friends, in this end time hour, there is nothing more important than seeking and soaking in the presence of God. Everything we need is found in His presence - not only healing and provision, but protection from the constant battle that rages against us, revelation and wisdom from the Word, the anointing and fragrance of Jesus on our lives, the power to do great exploits for the glory His name, and the ability to discern the times and seasons. I pray that you will choose to do the better thing because "the Spirit and the Bride say 'Come!' And let him who hears say, 'Come!' Whoever is thirsty, let him come, let him take the free gift of the water of life'." (Revelations 22:17)". He is found by those who seek Him with all their hearts. (Jeremiah 28:13). May the Spirit of the Lord help you to choose the better thing!

Minoli Haththotuwa
www.wingslikeeagles.info

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