Right Thing vs. Good Part

Luke 10:38-42 – Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

When Jesus came to Martha’s house, she was cumbered (driven mentally, over occupied, distracted)6 about serving. Her sister Mary was also at her house and helped her serve for a time, but left to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to His word. Martha later came to Jesus and desired Him to say something for Mary to help her again. Jesus told Martha that she was careful and troubled over many things, but Mary had chosen that good part and it would not be taken from her.

Jesus described Mary choosing that good part. Martha’s part may not have been bad (as something sinful), but when compared to Mary’s choice, it was not better. In our view of the their lives, we can learn four things:

1. What you feel is right may not be good. Martha was serving Jesus and His guests. At first glance, it would seem like she was doing a good thing. She was being a good host and ensuring everyone was taken care of. However, there was a part she missed because she was distracted in her service.

2. Identify distractions. It is important to identify the things that are consuming your life. There are many things that can consume your thoughts throughout the day: child care, problems at work, relationship issues, money issues, etc. All these things can consume your heart, mind, and soul where you think about them over and over and over again. Your emotions become like a roller coaster where you don’t have the capacity to see your situations clearly.

3. Eliminate distractions. In the parable of the sower, the seeds that were choked by the thorns were those that were consumed by the cares and concerns of this life. When we are consumed with this life, we will prove to be just as unfruitful (Matthew 13:22).

In order to understand what that good part is for our lives, we must purge ourselves of the cares and concerns of this life. You can eliminate your distractions by casting your cares unto the Lord.

Psalm 55:22 (KJV) – Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

4. Jesus identifies the good part. When Martha asked Jesus to tell her sister to help her, Jesus told her that she was careful and troubled about many things. However, He told her that Mary had chosen that good part, and it wouldn’t be taken from her. Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet to be taught of Him. When compared to being a good host, it was much more important to hear Jesus’ teachings.

Within our lives, we too must sit before the Lord in other to determine what our ‘good’ part may be. That good part may be nothing more than sitting before His feet to hear from Him. Whatever it may be, He will tell you as you cast out those cumbering issues unto Him.

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