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 few things are needed—or indeed only one.
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:38-42
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“Mary has chosen what is better.”
In Luke 10, Jesus and his disciples arrive, unannounced, at the home of Mary and Martha.
Immediately upon their arrival, Martha scurries into action preparing the home, the food, and the drink for their guests.
Mary, on the other hand, chooses to sit at the feet of Jesus listening to all that he had to say.
Frustrated (and probably weary), Martha asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her.
Instead, Jesus responds with a life-changing truth. It is a truth that is both simple and profound. A truth that can be understood by a child, but takes most of us longer than a lifetime to master.
“Mary has chosen what is better.”
Our entire lives are lived with the opportunity of choice:
How we spend our time.
How we spend our money.
Where we focus our attention.
Where we pursue entertainment.
Which words we choose to speak.
Where we look for learning and self-development.
Even where we look for fulfillment and meaning.
In each and every case, there are some choices that are better than others.
In every regard and in every aspect of our lives, may we learn to choose what is better.
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Prayer
Heavenly Father, speak truth into our lives so that we can choose what is better. Help me spend my time, my money, and my energy on things of eternal value. And may I learn the value of simply sitting at your feet as I seek to follow and serve you. Amen.