How are you today? Is there anything in your life that tears you apart? Do you have anything on your mind that disturbs you? Would you find anything on the following list that causes you to be anxious or troubled? Do you find any of these things on your mind?
- Money
- Work
- Relative’s, Friend’s, or Neighbor’s health
- Not waking up to the alarm
- Failing to get an assignment done on time
- Your appearance
- Your family
- Relationships
The worry and fret you experience will not change your situation. There’s nothing about the distraction of your circumstances or worry that creates any better of a circumstance.
What is the answer? What is the hope?
There is a story in the Bible about a woman who was very much troubled. She was distracted. She thought the answer to her scenario was to get someone else to help her keep everything together and to get it all done. She even prayed about it. She made a bold, clear request to the Son of God for the help she needed.
What was the Son of God’s response? “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things.” Jesus identified Martha’s frustrations. He acknowledged that she was anxious and fretful. He recognized she was distracted and could not keep it all together.
Jesus continued . . . “Mary has chosen the good part, which cannot be taken away from her.” Mary had chosen to listen and learn from Jesus. She “was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His Word.”
Martha was still very much troubled with her circumstance. She had so many preparations and no one to help her. She had to get this done . . .and her sister was not helping. She prayed about it. She asked for help. What else could she do?
Jesus did not deny the request of Martha, Jesus showed her the better way. He showed her the only way to keep her life all together, to not be distracted and troubled about so many things was to “CHOOSE THE GOOD PART”. Jesus wanted Martha to decide to be still, be undistracted, and be listening to the Words of God.
Martha probably thought, “I’m hearing Jesus’ teaching while I’m doing all these preparations.” You see Martha and Mary were in the same house. They were probably under the same roof and in the same room. Martha was up busy, working. Mary was sitting and listening. Martha was distracted. Mary was concentrated.
In meditation upon this passage in Luke 10:38-42, I think we can learn many things, but the main thing I’m learning from this passage is the following: If we choose not to concentrate on the good part, our lives will be distracted and troubled about many things.
In this story, Jesus is emphasizing the importance of focused attention on His Word. In our busy, rushed world with so many things to do, we often take our “words of Jesus” on the go. We listen to it while we drive, exercise, clean, shower, etc. Do our times with God ease our worrisome, bothered thoughts? If not, maybe we need to “choose the good part which will not be taken away”.
Set a time in your day when you can “sit and listen”. Select a time when you are not distracted by all the things you’re trying to get done while you are listening to God. Decide to get your overwhelmed calmed because you “chose the good part”.
So, what does God say when you are bothered and worried about many things? He says, “sit at my feet and listen to me.” That sounds a lot like “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
It is not God’s will for you to be overwhelmed and burdened. Paul tells us in Philippians to be “anxious for nothing”. It is not God’s will for you to be worried and bothered. Another portion of Philippians 4 tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice”. That word “rejoice” means to “delight in the grace of God” or “experience God’s grace”. The problem with anxiety and being bothered is that it distracts you from delighting in the grace of God and experiencing His favor.
Take some time today to choose the good part. Sit and listen to God’s Word. Do not try to accomplish any other task but to “sit” and “listen”. Then, delight and experience the grace of God. The circumstances of your life, work, health, etc. may not change, but you will change. The change you will experience is that instead of being torn apart, un-whole, and unwell; you will move toward wholeness and wellness by being still and experiencing Christ Jesus.
Scriptures: Matthew 11:28-30; Luke 10:38-42; Philippians 4:4, 6-7
Written By: Anne Gurley
