Choosing the Better
By Susan Klein
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith…”
Hebrews 12:2a (NIV)
Two of the most
beloved sisters in the Bible are Mary and Martha. Some have argued that Martha
got a bad rap. Perhaps she was just a really hard worker, maintaining a home
and a staff and trying to be the model hostess. What if Mary was actually somewhat
of a slacker? (Like that younger sister who hides out in the bathroom for an
hour when the table needs clearing and the dishes need to be washed.) We really
don’t know for sure the circumstances leading up to this exchange between
Martha and Jesus in Luke chapter 10. What we do know is that in
this circumstance, “Mary has chosen
what is better.”
I believe the
“better” that Jesus references has everything to do with Himself. It wasn’t that Mary
was being an astute listener or model student of the Master, it was that she
was choosing Him over “worry.” She chose Him over all the “distractions.” She
chose Him over being “upset about many things.”
Martha’s choice to prepare and be hospitable was not a bad choice, but
she was missing out on the “better” choice because she was focusing on herself.
How many times do we
miss out because we don’t choose the better? Like Martha, we choose to compare,
complain, and combust when things aren’t going the way we think they should. We
choose to focus on ourselves and our circumstances. Mary wasn’t ignorant of the
fact that Jesus was coming to dinner with an entourage in tow. She knew there
was much to prepare for, yet she chose to drink of the Living Water rather than
fret about what to feed them. She chose to trust in the Provider rather than
worry if there were enough provisions for the group. She chose to sit and be
still, rather than run around in a flurry of activity.
I think it’s safe to
say that most of us have a bit of a Martha side. We have our to-do lists that
need to get done, and that’s okay. But when they don’t get done or distractions
come in, can we choose to seek Jesus
over worry? When our neighbor’s life looks to be going better than ours, can we
choose to thank Jesus for what we’ve
been blessed with over choosing to compare? When someone is being ugly to us,
can we choose to ask Jesus to love that person through us?
In every circumstance,
there are choices. Will you choose the better?
GOING
DEEPER:
1. Choose to start your morning with
Jesus, asking Him to prepare your to-do list.
2.
Consider all your options before choosing.
FURTHER
READING:
Susan
is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible
studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of
the Peace Team at Oakwood and also co-leads an on-site small group.
