Choose the Good Portion | Morning Routine for October 18

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 10:40–42 (ESV)

In Luke 10, Jesus visits the home of Martha, whose sister Mary is also present. These were sisters (along with their brother, Lazarus) whom Jesus knew well. Perhaps because it was Martha’s home, she had especially busied herself with hospitality—likely including meal preparation and the other tasks involved with hosting Jesus. Her sister, Mary, however was ‘seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word’. 

At one point, Martha vents frustration to Jesus, enlisting Him to help: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” Jesus’ answer is not what she hoped for: “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.” Jesus does not condemn hospitality. Rather, he commends the devotion of Mary. 

As believers, we are called to serve, to show hospitality, and to sacrifice for the good of others. We are called to discipline and hard work. But sometimes we can become so task oriented and busy, even with ‘good’ things, that we fail to choose ‘the good portion’ like Mary—our devotion to Jesus suffers. We become too busy to really give Jesus and His teaching the attention they deserve. How you can you choose the good portion this week?