Make the Best Choices: A Lesson from the Story Mary and Martha

The story of Mary and Martha as recorded in the gospel of Luke 10:38-42 is a short one.  The story about these two sisters with very different personalities is only 5 verses long but in those 5 verses, we learn a very important lesson about making choices.  In our first lesson in my pastor's Margin series, we learned that we are not blessed in busyness.  We need margin in our lives so that we avoid overload.  In this second lesson in my pastor's Margin series, we learn that we need margin in our lives in order to make the best choices in life.

Make the Best Choices;  A Lesson from the Story of Mary and Martha

This post written from my personal Bible study notes taken during my pastor's sermon titled Choose Best.  His sermon was based on Luke 10:38-42.  Let's look at this passage in the Bible.

Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving by myself? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10:38-42

Margin is the space between our load and our limit.  It is our breathing room and we need a lot more of it.  Hurry is hurting us.  We need margin space in our lives because that space is where the best things happen.  

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

A deeper relationship with Jesus helps us create margin space in our lives because a relationship with Him helps us make the best choices.

Make the Best Choices: A Lesson from the Story of Mary and Martha

1.  Martha had a margin problem.

Martha was social, outgoing, an organizer, and a leader.  She made things happen.  Those are all good things but remember our last lesson?  We are not blessed in busyness.

If the devil can't get us to be bad, he will get us to be busy.  Busyness eats up our margin space.  Martha was distracted because she was doing too much.

Did you notice that Martha even interrupted Jesus?  WOW

But that's not all . . . 

Martha accuses Jesus of not caring about what she is doing.

Martha soured a sweet moment.  She actually bosses Jesus.  Can you imagine?  Do we ever do that?  

Before you answer that question, let's think about all the times we have prayed for something but then told God how we wanted Him to answer our prayer.  If we are truthful, we are as guilty as Martha so maybe we shouldn't be too hard on her.

Let's remember that too many "things to do" leads to more frustration and more opportunities for failure.

2.  Mary made the best choice.

Mary had spiritual margin space.  Mary chose Jesus.

More time with Jesus makes us wiser with our schedule and changes the direction of our day.

3.  Jesus is the simple solution.

Jesus said that only ONE THING is necessary.  He doesn't guilt us.  He convicts us.  Jesus doesn't pile burdens on us.  He takes them off.

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.  Matthew 6:33

Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  Matthew 11:28-29

B - Being

U - Under

S - Satan's

Y - Yolk

Look at that again.  BUSY - Being Under Satan's Yolk

That is not a place we want to be.

Choose the yolk of Jesus.

This post is written from my personal Bible study notes based on my pastor's sermon.  You are invited to watch the sermon in its entirety as it is preached by our senior paster in the video below. 

Make the Best Choices:  A Lesson from the Story of Mary and Martha