It doesn’t take a very in-depth look at most women’s lives
to come to the conclusion that we are excellent “multi-taskers”. Most of us
have our plates full, and balancing it all has become second nature to us.
We’ve become very good at filling our schedules and running from the one thing
to the next; and even feeling a sense of pride or accomplishment at the many
things we juggle in our daily lives. Women, in general, just love to get stuff
done.
Crossing things off our task-list might prove very rewarding,
and it is indeed good to set to work at the task in front of you, yet, the
danger of becoming so duty-driven that we neglect the more valuable things in
life always lurks around the corner. We see this in the story of Mary and
Martha. Jesus came into the two sisters’ home to share a meal with them.
Martha, who most probably was a multi-tasker extraordinaire, immediately jumped
to work, and was quite disturbed at her sister’s seemingly sluggish approach to
all that needed to be done. It says of Mary that she “sat at Jesus feet, and
heard His word.”
When petitioned to address Mary, Jesus’ answer in response
must have come as quite the shock! Instead of telling Mary to get up and help
her sister, He declared that she had “chosen the good part, which shall not be
taken away from her.”
Jesus' words to Martha’s chore-minded approach to life, have
challenged me so many times. It seems that we would much rather be running
around, cumbered about with many cares, than to simply sit at the feet of our
Lord. What Martha was doing wasn’t bad; it just was not the best. Mary chose
what was best. I don’t know about you, but I know how many times I’ve chosen
tasks and to-do lists over sitting peacefully at the Jesus’ feet.
Don’t we all too often treat our relationship with Jesus
that way? We’re so busy doing things for Him, that we neglect being with
Him. We argue that if we take time to pray, worship,and study His Word, we
won’t get other things done, instead of realizing that it is at His feet that
we find the strength and energy we need for all that is before us. I think it
was Martin Luther who once said that was too busy NOT to spend the best three
hours of his day in prayer. Sadly, we often treat even Bible study and prayer
as duties to be done, rather than an opportunity to come to know Christ more
fully! Spending hours of your day, quietly and lovingly at the feet of your
King, might appear to many as a waste of precious time- time that we could have
used to be productive! Remember that choosing Him over all other things, is
choosing the best part, and it shall not be taken away from us!
Written by Elsje Zornes from setapartgirl.com
