We live in a fast-paced world. We’re always busy, busy, busy—jumping from one thing to the next, scrambling to get everything done in time. I know I can relate! My days are so full of working, and writing, and reading, and many other things that some days it feels like I barely have two seconds to stop and take a breath.
Because our lives are so anxious, and busy, and chaotic, we often neglect the tasks that we deem not as important, which sometimes, unfortunately, includes reading the Bible and praying. We all know that reading our Bibles and praying to God are important. But life happens. We have research papers due at 11:59, dirty diapers that need to be changed, reports that need to be turned in first thing. We have early mornings and late nights, and there’s so much going on that those dusty little Bibles on our nightstands just slip from our minds.
This forgetfulness can leave us feeling guilty or ashamed, but we need not lose hope. We can actually be encouraged because the truth is Jesus does not condemn us for forgetting these important daily disciplines. In fact, He does the complete opposite. He draws near to us.
And we can be sure of this truth by examining an encounter Jesus had with two sisters in the village of Bethany.
“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.” Luke 10:38-39, ESV
The two sisters were named Martha and Mary, and they were friends of Jesus. They also had a brother named Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead (John 11:43-44), but he’s not mentioned in this narrative. We see that Mary sits at the feet of Jesus as he teaches in their home. This is the position a disciple would take, the student submitting to and learning from his rabbi or teacher. It was very uncommon for women to learn from rabbis in this culture, yet Jesus appears to have welcomed Mary’s curiosity and eagerness for the truth.
But where is Martha?
“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.’” Luke 10:40
Martha was doing what was typical for the woman to do when a guest entered her home. She was preparing food and making sure that the needs of her guests were being met. But she was doing it alone. Mary had abandoned her to sit at Jesus’ feet, and that was not her rightful place. She should have been helping Martha and serving their guests. Martha got so frustrated with her sister that she marched up to Jesus and demanded that He tell Mary to help her.
His response is not what she expected.
“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 10:41-42
Martha was like us. Anxious. Busy. Trying to get everything done. She thought she was doing all the right things. And what she was doing was good. Doing ministry and serving is never a bad thing. But Martha was missing the best thing—sitting under the teaching of her Savior and listening to the Word of God straight from His mouth.
We can do all the good and right things in this world and still miss the best thing God has for us. And what is this “best thing”? Himself. The most important thing we can do with our time is not writing the perfect paper, or raising well-rounded kids, or turning a project in on time. It’s having fellowship with our Lord and Savior in His Word and in prayer. This our portion, our treasure, our greatest possession.
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26
This may come as a surprise to you, but we are not perfect. We are weak. We get exhausted. We mess up, and make mistakes, and sin. No matter how much we exert ourselves or how much anxiety we have, we cannot do everything and do it perfectly. But that’s okay. Because Jesus draws near to us, hands us his easy yoke and light burden, gives us rest, and points us to what really matters in our lives: our relationship with Him (Matthew 11:29-30).
So, next time you’re feeling anxious and busy and tempted to bypass your time with the Lord, remember what your good portion is. It’s not your education, your family, or your career. It’s Jesus. So, you must make your relationship with Him a priority in your life. Even if it means waking up a little earlier, even if it means rearranging your normal schedule, even if it means not checking off everything on your to-do list, you must make time to be in God’s Word and meet with Him in prayer. Because choosing the Good Portion is what will truly ease your anxiety.
“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalm 16:5-8
