Luke 10:41-42 (KJV) 41 “And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Jesus said to Martha ‘You are worried and upset about many things’. There are so many things in life, but Jesus says, ‘only one thing is needed’. It was Mary who had her priorities right.
What are your priorities? Is time with the Lord something you try and squeeze into your busy schedule? Or do you schedule your relationship with him as your number one priority?
Luke 10:27-28 (NKJV) “So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself. 28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”
Mary had her priorities right. She sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he said. She realised that, although there were many distractions and worries around, there was nothing more important than simply sitting at Jesus’ feet and listening to him. This should be our number one priority.
Martha was too busy to take time to enjoy her relationship with Jesus when he came to her home. Not spending time with Jesus is the biggest mistake you can make in your spiritual life.
There is an old song written by Ernie Haase “Sitting at the feet of Jesus, Oh, what words I hear Him say! Happy place! so near, so precious! May it find me there each day. Sitting at the feet of Jesus. I would look upon the past. For His love has been so gracious. It has won my heart at last. Sitting at the feet of Jesus. Where can mortal be more blest? There I lay my sins and sorrows. And, when weary, find sweet rest. Sitting at the feet of Jesus. There I love to weep and pray. While I from His fullness gather. Grace and comfort every day. Bless me, O my Saviour, bless me. As I sit low at Thy feet. Oh, look down in love upon me. Let me see Thy face so sweet. Give me, Lord, the mind of Jesus. Keep me holy as He is. May I prove I’ve been with Jesus. Who is all my righteousness.”
Charles Hummel notes, many of us neglect the truly important things by submitting to the “tyranny of the urgent.” Notice how Jesus’ answer corrects Martha’s priorities. On all our to-do lists, we should draw a heavy black line and write “time with Christ” above that line and everything else below it. Nearness to Christ stands in a class by itself.”
Colossians 1:18 (NKJV) “And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the pre-eminence.”
Psalm 27:8 “You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”