Get the treasure that will never be lost!
“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one, Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42).
Jesus came to a village. There lived a woman named Martha. She opened her home to Jesus. Now Martha had a sister named Mary. Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what Jesus was teaching. This was a usual Middle Eastern house in the olden days, where there were many people talking and doing different things. Martha being the hostess of the house was worried about how to feed people. She was so worried and distracted because of all the preparation she had to make. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me.
Jesus said, “Martha, Martha,” “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed- or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus, the Son of God, used the above incident to teach us a lesson. The lesson is this- A reminder to get our priorities right. Working, preparing food, service are all of course important. But the Lord wants us to keep our first priority first –spending time with Him, listening, and learning from His word.
Jesus said several things are needed, but only one thing is the most important thing and therefore most needed out of all. That one is –to study the Word of God at the feet of Jesus Christ. Jesus also said the presence of Christ and His Word in Mary cannot be taken away from her. It is the most precious treasure we can have in our life, better than richness, all kinds of wealth and human relationships. All these can very well be lost or taken away from us. But not the presence of Jesus and His Word.
Jesus did not rebuke Martha. Instead, He said to her in a kind and compassionate way. He called her name two times. “Martha, Martha.” This tells what He is going to say is very important and noteworthy and calls her full attention to it. Then He acknowledged her heart’s burden and worry. Then He taught her an important lesson in a loving and caring way. We should all keep this lesson in our hearts.
Two different personalities. Mary was content and was willing to sit at the feet of Jesus. Listen and learn the Word from Him. Martha was overly anxious about physical needs and people’s expectations.
Beloved, we cannot hear God if we are constantly busy doing. In addition, we cannot care for others if we do not spend time in quietness and rest with the Lord and His word. Bible says in Isaiah 30:15, “This is what the Sovereign LORD, the Holy One of Israel, says: “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you would have none of it.” Here the word ‘repentance” literally means ‘returning’ to the Lord. So it says in returning to the LORD and rest in Him is our salvation. In quietness and trust in Him is our strength. Let us not ignore the ‘most important’ need of our life. Before I hit the road of daily busy businesses, Lord, help me to spend time with you and listen from you because “your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105.
Beloved, got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, Thank you for teaching me this lesson to get my priorities right. I want to get the treasure that will never be lost- You and Your eternal Word. Help me to sit in your presence with an open Bible and a listening heart to you each and every day. I believe Jesus Christ died and rose again for all my sins. Thank you for your love and salvation. I love you and submit to you today. In the name of Christ, I pray, Amen.”
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