Priorities: few things are needed—or indeed only one.

Luke 10:38-42 Amplified Bible (AMP)

38 Now while they were on their way, it occurred that Jesus entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received andwelcomed Him into her house.

39 And she had a sister named Mary, who seated herself at the Lord’s feet and was listening to His teaching.

40 But Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me [to lend a hand and do her part along with me]!

41 But the Lord replied to her by saying, Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things;

42 There is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.

Priorities matter to our Lord.  This is just one portion of scripture that speaks to it.

Martha was serving beautifully.  It was Martha that received and welcomed our Lord Jesus Christ and his disciples and followers into her home.  Serving was the way Martha worshiped.  It was only when her focus was overwhelmed by all the tasks at hand that she become distracted.  She had much that was good to be distracted with.

If you will allow me the liberty to peer into this scene with my imagination...

I imagine that Martha had not lost her desire to sit at the Lord's feet and listen and learn but there were so many things that had to be taken care of first, foods to be prepared, kitchen to be cleaned, wine and water to be served.  Martha was rushing to get it all taken care of with excellence, after all this was her friend and her Lord, and He deserved her best.  But there was too much to do, and if she didn't get any help it might not get done on time or with the quality that she strived to give the Messiah.  I can imagine her reminding herself and comparing herself to the feast Sarah and Abraham prepared for the Angel of the Lord.  Somehow Sarah was able to pull together a feast quickly that the Lord was pleased with, but if she didn't get help, Martha may not be able to pull it off.  Why wasn't Mary helping?  Doesn't Mary understand it is important?  Doesn't Mary know that unless she helps I (Martha) will miss out on the chance to sit and listen to Jesus teach!  Certainly, the Lord understands this and wants me to!

Martha [overly occupied and too busy] was distracted with much serving; and she came up to Him and said, Lord, is it nothing to You that my sister has left me to serve alone?

Listen to the sweetness of Jesus, reminding her of how to worship in her work, reminding her of the WHY she serves, the focus of her serving, reminding her that all the details she is worried about aren't as important as keeping her first things first; to receive and welcome Jesus into her home; to let Jesus be the focus of all the attention in the place where she lived and served. 

As I listen to Jesus say,

Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; there is need of only one or but a few things. Mary has chosen the good portion [that which is to her advantage], which shall not be taken away from her.

I hear Him also say to me

Sam, Sam, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.  Chose what is better (the highest priority, the greatest thing, the most important thing).  For when you chose to make the priority the priority, it shall not be taken away.

It is notable to me that our Lord Jesus, would not distract Mary from Mary's priority of being at Jesus feet, in order for Martha to refocus her heart and MIND on Martha's priority of worshiping while she worked.  Jesus simply reminded Martha to "keep the main thing the main thing" (as we would say), and to not worry if the meal is late, cold, burned, missing ingredients, not all feet washed, some glasses empty, etc, that if she keeps her focus on giving her best in love to receive and welcome the Lord into her home, and she keeps her focus on the presence of the Lord, while she serves, she chooses the thing of eternal value and her good portion it will not be taken away either.

That must have been all the reminder Martha needed.  There is no further instruction or correction noted, and Jesus would return again and again to her home, where He and his disciples were received and welcomed.

It is my hope that I can be as responsive as Martha and keep my focus on receiving and welcoming the presence of the our Lord Jesus into the "places" where I live and work, without further instruction and correction needed to serve without worry because I am keeping my priorities in order and my focus on the "few things needed—or indeed only one."



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Jesus, 
I welcome you into first place in my heart and mind this morning.  I cast away all my distracted, anxious thoughts.  I receive you into the place of rule and Lordship in my mind and heart this morning, that I would ABIDE with you, guided by Your presence (by Your Holy Spirit) to serve you and worship you in my work.  I seek FIRST you and Your Kingdom to be made manifest, I trust you to help me with all the rest of the details.

Thank you Lord for giving up everything for me.  You lowered yourself to take on our likeness even the likeness of a helpless baby.  You lived a righteous perfect sinless life in the flesh because you knew we could not.  You struggled and stressed over the sacrifice you would have to pay, and obediently went to the cross to pay the penalty for our sins.  Glory Glory Hallelujah you did not stay in the grave but rose again, and walked among us to show us Your power of death and the grave and to give us eternal life through faith in You.

Thank you!!   That that very same power of Your Love is alive within me.  Thank you for sending us Your Holy Spirit so that we are never in this world alone and helpless.  Thank you Holy Spirit for guiding me in all wisdom, grace and your perfect love which casts out all fears.

In the name of my LORD and Savior, Jesus .... AMEN