“Mary has chosen the better thing…” Luke 10:42 NCV
No doubt there was much to do to meet the needs of Jesus and His followers that day. Feeding a crowd was no small task, and Martha was preoccupied with serving and preparing a meal for her guests while. her sister, Mary, sat at Jesus’ feet, listening and learning.
Jesus loved Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, their brother. That love welcomed Mary to sit at His feet as one of His disciples even though such a position was reserved for men at that time. Mary wanted to know Him and made that her priority. Martha was focused on the work to be done and wanted to pull Mary away to help. Jesus said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Only one thing is important. Mary has chosen the better thing, and it will never be taken away from her.”” (Luke 10:41–42, NCV) Being with Him was more important than doing for Him. The God who fed thousands with a few loaves and fish, and who said, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me and accomplish His work,” (John 4:34) didn’t make His next meal the priority. He was feeding His followers a spiritual meal, and Martha missed it.
Fast forward to Jesus’ final week on earth, and Jesus is again at the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. This time Martha served while Mary poured out costly ointment on Jesus’ feet and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the beautiful fragrance. She’d gone from being a listener to a heartfelt worshiper. Once again, Mary’s choice was met with criticism, this time from one of Jesus’ own disciples. Judas’ feigned concern for the poor was met with a stinging rebuke: “Why do you trouble this woman? For she has done a beautiful thing to Me. For you will always have the poor with you, but you will not always have Me. In pouring this ointment on My body, she has done it to prepare me for burial. Truly, I say to you, wherever this gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” (Matt. 26:10-13) Feeding the poor was commendable. Jesus explicitly told His followers that what they did to the least of these they did for Him (Matt. 25:35-40). Feeding the poor was a good thing, but in this moment sacrificial worship was “the better thing.”
God’s ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts (Isa. 55:18) We’re called to relationship, not rule following. How can we know what matters most if we are not spending time in His presence? How can we choose “the better thing” if we’re worrying, scurrying, and hurrying for Him instead of abiding in Him? Service that counts for eternity flows out of spending time in His presence as a listener, a learner, and a worshiper. Jesus said, “Only one thing is important.” Make the time. Abide in His presence. Choose “the better thing.”
“Father, forgive me for religiously running my own race and doing what I think is best for Your Kingdom instead of sitting in Your presence, listening to Your voice, and learning from You. Forgive me for doing what matters most in my own eyes instead of what matters most to You. I repent of worrying, scurrying, and hurrying apart from You, of leaning on my own understanding instead of living by every word that proceeds from Your mouth. Teach me, rebuke me, correct me, and train me in righteousness. I want to abide in You, let Your Word abide in me, and choose the better thing.”
Lisa Moore