Message summary: Today when we are barraged by the troubles of this world may we hear our Lord's voice, "You are worried and upset about many things" and receive His assurance "only one thing is needed". "What is better" is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what He has to say. It's focusing on the deeper spiritual, less visible but most essential realm.

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"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" (Luke 10:38-42).

Earlier this week we mentioned that we were finishing our regular chaplain service at Audreys, a company we have served since early 2017. Although we still expect to periodically visit we sought to end well as we walked through and visited with each employee. This is a company where I've shared a brief devotional on Tuesday mornings before we enter into prayer with those who voluntarily attend. An employee took the above photo on Tuesday.

Martha  has been at the company since we began (the photo on the right was taken several years ago). When I first met her I smiled, and seeking to make a connection, recalled today's passage said, "Martha, Martha".

She told us about a time when she was young and dating her boyfriend, who later became her husband. He saw she was quite distressed about a matter and thoughtfully spoke these words to her, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things” quoting directly from Luke 10:42 in the KJV. She told us his thoughtful and personal use of Scripture brought her needed perspective on her troubles then and has many times since. Perhaps his thoughtful ways contributed to the reason she married him some 40 years ago!

In our Scripture text today Mary and Martha had opened their home to Jesus for hospitality. Mary sat at the Lord's feet listening to what He said.

We don't know for sure what it is that had Martha so anxious apart from the phrase in the text, "Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made". Other versions state, "Martha was preoccupied with getting everything ready for their meal" or "busy with all the work to be done". For those who arrange such gatherings and carry out the many duties involved, including the meal, it's not hard to imagine how overwhelming the details can be.

She told Jesus, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself?" We always need to be careful about making any judgments of others, including Bible characters, since we usually don't have the full picture. Martha seems to have a point. Who wants to do all the work by themselves, but based upon the Lord's gentle rebuke there was more to this story.

Today let us consider the Lord's words to Martha, "Martha, Martha, You are worried and upset about many things". Of course this declaration was initially directed to Martha but being worried and upset about many things is a practically universal condition we all have from time to time and some more than others.

Both Mary and Martha had important duties in welcoming the Lord Jesus to their home. Martha was tending to physical needs (the preparations that had to be made) while Mary was tending to spiritual needs (sitting at the feet of Jesus). Both were important and it's interesting that Jesus did not devalue Martha's role. But Martha's complaining whimper forced Jesus to address the attitude of her heart.

The latter part of the text has a message for Martha and for all of us: "But only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her".

Mary made a willful, purposeful choice to sit at the Lord's feet, listening intently to His counsel, His teaching, and delighting in His friendship.

In the midst of all that may bring on anxiety or upset us let us hear and take in the words of Christ. Ultimately only one thing is needed and choosing the better part is what the Lord wants us to consider such as Mary who chose to shut her mind to the daily routine and open her heart to the rare moments that she could personally spend in Jesus' presence. Perhaps she was completely lost in His presence and simply forgot that Martha had need of her help. The sisters learned the balance between a soul at rest and a body in motion, as they both worked hard for Christ and worshiped at His feet.

This last Sunday we sang a song that has these words,

Today when we are barraged by the troubles of this world and we are worried and upset about many things may we preach to ourselves: "Stephen, Stephen (insert your name here), you are worried and upset about many things" and receive His assurance "only one thing is needed". "What is better" is sitting at the feet of Jesus listening to what He has to say. It's focusing on the deeper spiritual, less visible but most essential realm.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

"Faithful Now" Listen on YouTube  This is the song we sang in our service last Sunday that has this thoughtful verse:

"Martha & Mary" a sermon by RC Sproul