The Good Portion

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
(Luke 10:38-42 ESV)

Step 1: Welcome Jesus in. Step 2: Make dinner. Step 3: Get annoyed with Mary. Step 4: Tell Jesus what's up. That was the way Martha rolled as a "get 'er done" kind of lady. She was the type that knew at a certain level what was important as she welcomed Jesus into her home and wanted to hospitable things while He was there with her family. But somewhere along the way in her multi-step process, she lost track of her priorities. It probably happened right around the time where she was trying to set tables, get the bread out of the oven and tidy up the room all at the same time. We're told that she was distracted with much serving. Her problem wasn't with one of the seven abominable sins, running away from God, or drinking the night away. Her problem was one of portion control--only she had this issue before dinner was even ready. Apparently, the fact that she had a problem at all was not even on her radar screen. She "knew" without a doubt Mary needed a straightening out. In fact, she was so convinced that this was the case that she took the liberty of trying to straighten out Jesus as well! Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? And then, so as not to tax poor Jesus' brain, she gave Him the solution: Tell her then to help me! A bit presumptuous perhaps? Or perhaps a bit like you and I?

I've been a bit overwhelmed lately, always with so many things on my "to do" list (a list which in many ways is self-administered) and I tend to assume that by staying worked up about my list, I will be choosing the good portion of productivity--let's call it the Marthinian method of work. But as noble as this method seems to those of us who "serve the Lord" through our striving, the Lord Himself doesn't seem all that impressed. So what exactly was Martha's problem? Over-productivity? Not taking enough time for rest? Maybe she struggled at times in those areas, but I don't think that's what Jesus' main concern here. Notice when it was that Jesus gave her a gentle rebuke. It came when she decided that time at Jesus' feet was inferior to time in Jesus' kitchen. What Martha was not understanding was that being consumed with Jesus (and not Jesus-related service) is what is truly best. The good portion isn't necessarily sitting quietly and absorbing great information (though we need those times daily), but the good portion is ultimately Jesus Himself. This is why He told his indignant disciples who were upset about perfume being "wasted" on Jesus instead of sold to benefit the poor, "you always have the poor with you, but you will not always have me" (Mt. 26:11). The Master of our work and leisure is concerned that we see Him as the must-have treasure at every moment and that we encourage others in the same. He is to be our continuous linked-up-to-Him motivation for everything we do. Let us begin well, as Martha did in welcoming Jesus, but then follow through as Mary did in seeing Jesus as the good portion we're all desperately in need of.