Louise Gevers

“Martha, Martha! You are worried and troubled over so many things, but just one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the right thing, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41 GNT

We sometimes think that stress belongs to the high-powered lifestyle of our time, but often it’s our way of handling a situation that makes us feel pressurized, regardless of when we’re living, and getting priorities wrong is a substantial part of it. When our priorities are right our stress is eased and we feel peaceful, even if we’re making a sacrifice to do it. However, there’s usually a fine line between the right and wrong choice because at face value both may appear good.

Martha found herself in such a situation. She had made the choice to welcome Jesus into her home, in all probability to show Him hospitality and hear His teachings, but soon discovered herself spending much time preparing and serving the meal for Him and His disciples – no small deed - and so busy that she had no time with Him.

Having to shoulder all the work herself, while her sister sat at Jesus’ feet, taking in all that He had to say, instead of helping her made her feel annoyed. When she complained to Jesus about Mary’s lack of interest in helping her and admonished Him for not caring, she, not Mary, received His reproach: “Mary has chosen the right thing …” Indeed, Martha’s heart was unfocused, but Mary was on track.

Jesus applauds Mary’s choice to sit at His feet, but makes Martha understand that she’s dealing with a situation of her own making in not making Him her top priority. He didn’t gloss over it by telling her not to worry because she’d put on a fine meal and He’d have a word with Mary. If Martha had sat at His feet too, He could have fed them all as He did the five thousand. Sometimes with matters of faith we have an over-developed sense of our own responsibilities and, in focusing wrongly, end up distressed.

Following Jesus is about making right choices from beginning to end. Let’s ask His help in setting our priorities so that even with the best intentions we don’t make wrong choices. He’s on our side.

Prayer: Lord, I recognise that complaints and distress arise in me because my heart lacks focus and discernment even with my best intentions. Help me not to clutter up my time with what appears to be very important work, but to sit at Your feet till You lead me in the right path and I know Your peace. Amen.