C.S. Lewis
Are you a Martha or a Mary?
There is a story in the gospel of Luke about Jesus visiting two sisters, Mary and Martha. Jesus seemed to find great value in taking time out to visit with family and friends.
In the story though, there is a bit of an issue between the two sisters. Martha, perhaps wanting to make Jesus' visit as nice as possible, is busy, busy, busy. She's cleaning, arranging, preparing, and just in general hustling and bustling trying to get things done. At the same time, her sister Mary is reclining on the floor at Jesus' feet, just enjoying his company.
Naturally, Martha feels a bit put out at being the only one in the house who feels the need to get all the necessary work done, and she appeals to Jesus, asking him to get her sister Mary involved in the work. But Jesus perhaps surprises Martha with his reply.
"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things,but few things are needed--or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."
It wasn't that the work Martha was doing didn't need to be done. But Martha had the same choice that Mary had - focus on the work, or focus on the visitor. Mary had made the better choice.
Jesus knows that we all have a tendency to focus on things rather than God. We get caught up in the issues of life, we get busy with activities, we get concerned with things in this world - and we tend to forget about the things of God.
"So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. " (Matt 6:31-33)
Do you really believe that the God you follow is a kind and loving heavenly Father who wants the best for you, who is meeting your needs even before you ask, who has a plan for you that is a good plan full of hope and a future? If so, why do we spend so much time worrying about things that aren't really that important in the long run?
When was the last time you spent some "Mary" time with your God? What a shame it would be to find that the Lord of Glory had called on you to spend some time together, but only got your answering machine becauses you were just too busy.
Put the first things first. Devote part of your day, every day, to God first. Spend time with Him. Speak your heart to Him, and incline your ears to hear from Him.
I think we'd all be amazed at how differently our days would go.
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