HEATHER MOLENDYK|CONTRIBUTOR

The walls of the tidy home seemed to stretch like an over-stuffed belly as man after dirt-tracking man entered the house under Martha’s expert gaze. Although boisterous conversation reverberated in the front room, Martha could still hear the structured commands of Custom, Cultural Tradition, and Good Breeding within the core of her soul. As men took their seats, Martha scurried to fetch the drinks.

Road-weary men quenched their thirst while Martha organized platters and bowls in the kitchen. Martha noted how even the house seemed to settle in to listen when Jesus began to teach. Martha took advantage of the temporary peace to structure her meal plan.

“We could serve the extra goat cheese from the…” Martha’s words slowed to a trickle. There was no one in the kitchen to hear her words. Where was her sister? “Mary?”

Confusion turned to frustration as Martha left the food preparation to hunt down her sister. Never one to waste a step, Martha grabbed a fresh pitcher to refill drinks before beginning this ill-timed game of hide and seek.

Martha’s eyes darted down the hall. No Mary. The eyes scanned each bearded face while simultaneously noting which guest held an empty cup. No Mary. After a quick count of cushions, Martha’s eyes spied a graceful form seated at the feet of Jesus. Her eyes saw nothing but red.

Maneuvering the crowded room with the ease of an expert hostess, Martha made her way to Jesus. So consumed with her own agenda, it never even crossed Martha’s mind that she was about to interrupt Jesus’s teaching.

“Lord,” Martha began, unsuccessfully keeping her temper in check, “do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

Jesus looked at Martha and gently replied, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things.”

“I know I am anxious. I am having to do everything myself! Do you realize how much extra work is needed to feed this group of men?”

Jesus remembered feeding 5000 people, but his look of love never wavered. “But only one thing is necessary.”

Martha pointed at each man seated in the room as she continued her rant. “Everyone is hungry. If we all were to sit around listening to you teach, who would be responsible for serving the guests? You can’t NOT show hospitality to those visiting your home. It’s simply not good manners!”

Jesus stared at Martha.

Martha double-downed her demand with a pointed nod in Mary’s direction, “Tell her then to help me.”

“Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not,” Jesus firmly stated, “be taken away from her.”

(At least that’s how the story would have read if my argumentative self had the conversation with Jesus 2000 years ago.)

Too often the “Martha”

On the outside, I was a picture of what every church goer should look like. My gaze never wavered from the preacher. My Bible was open on my lap. My pen was in hand periodically jotting down notes. What a diligent student of scripture I was!

But if you could have traveled behind my eyes that day, a completely different story would have revealed itself. My mind swirled with lists, agenda items, phone calls, and family appointments. My foot tapped restlessly against the carpet under the pew. My notes were meal ideas and grocery lists for the coming week. I was doing everything but feasting on the Word of the Lord.

I relate so much to Martha’s story. I struggle to “sit at the Lord’s feet and listen to his teaching.” However, my natural disposition does not change the truth about what is good or right or pleasing to the Lord.

Like Mary, I need to choose the “good portion.”

What does it mean to choose the good portion?

Scripture says plenty about Who the good portions is:

The Lord is my chosen portion and cup; you hold my lot. (Ps. 16:5)

One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. (Ps. 27:4)

My flesh and heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps. 73:26)

The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words. (Ps. 119:57)

I cry to you, O Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living. (Ps. 142:5)

If you are a Martha like me, you probably blew past these verses without really soaking them in. Take a breath. Read the verses again. Meditate for a moment before moving on. I’ll wait.

What do we receive when we choose the good portion?

Great things are promised to those that choose the Lord as their portion. Did you catch the promises in those verses? Remember, Jesus is always purposeful in the words he chooses. Jesus praised Mary for choosing the good portion and promised it would not be taken away from her.

What had Mary chosen?

Mary chose to trust Jesus with her life. She knew Christ held her future in his hands. Mary chose the one place worth being— the holy presence of God forever. Mary knew that her body was weak, her emotions often betrayed her, and her courage could fail. She chose to put her faith in a God who always offers faithfulness, strength, and stability. Mary chose to obey the words of the God who had given His unfailing love to her. Mary chose to rest in the secure protection of the God who will never fail her.

What will you choose?

Luke never tells us Martha’s reaction to Jesus’s words. Did she immediately recognize her sin and apologize? Did she stomp off muttering biting words? Did she need time to meditate on Jesus’s words before coming to a right conclusion?

I know I hear the ancient, yet ever-present, convicting words of Jesus today. I need to slow down. I need to choose the good portion. The Good Portion is the only One who can satisfy.

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