But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath lelft me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And, Jesus answered and said unto her, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
Luke 10:40-42 (KJV)
Martha bids Jesus welcome,
flings wide the door and
greets Him warmly.
Then she turns away and races
for the kitchen to prepare a feast
fit for the King of Kings...
while Mary kneels before Him
in the threshold dust
to wash His feet.
Up to her elbows in flour,
kneading bread,
Martha lends half an ear
to the Master's words.
Moreover, Mary, hungry for other things,
sits quietly consuming the Bread of Life.
Martha works and frets and throws herself
into doing the things that need done.
Planning, preparing, performing,
she chooses to do, to act, to accomplish.
At last, weary with doing,
she lashes out at idle Mary,
who still sits at the Savior's feet.
"Mary has chosen a different way,
a better way." The Master says.
Martha serves with distraction,
labors under the strain of self-sacrifice,
obeys with a heart of resentment
and garnishes her offering with bitterness.
Mary gives only herself:
a quiet soul,
a listening dove,
a heart of adoration.
Nothing is more important to her
than fellowship with Jesus.
She chooses the better way
and her hunger is satisfied.
Author: B.J.Hoff
When I Read the authors account
of Martha and Mary,
I was brutally honest with myself
and I thought about what
I would do.
I am more like Martha when in wanting
to take care of my guests.
However, if JESUS were to walk into
my home, I could care less about what
we would eat.
I know, I'm sure that I too would fall at his
feet, and soak up all that I could.
The Question is:
Are you more like Martha or Mary?
And, What Would You Do??
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