Central Truth

Every normal person has some things they are concerned about: family, job, health, finance, and spiritual matters, but according to this passage the only thing that is worth being concerned about is the Word of God.

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Reflections

Jesus and His disciples were guests at the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Both of them welcomed their guests enthusiastically, and as soon as the guests were settled down, the sisters parted ways.  Martha jumped into the kitchen, perhaps to cook the best food of her life for her very important guests, and she was expecting  her sister to join her in the kitchen, so the dinner would be ready in time. After waiting for some time and Mary did not show up, Martha became concerned and she went looking for her. She must be wondering if Mary suddenly fell ill due to over-excitement or something. After checking all the rooms in the house and Mary was nowhere to be found, she went to the living room where the guests were to report that her sister was 'missing.'   
 
Imagine her surprise and disappointment when she found her sister, sitting at the feet of Jesus with the disciples and others, listening to His teaching. She could not keep her hurt to herself, so she complained to Jesus that it was unfair of Mary to sit down listening to the Word, leaving her to do all the cooking by herself. To Martha's amazement, instead of rebuking Mary for her selfish attitude and sending her to the kitchen to help her sister, Jesus commended her for her wise choice. "But the Lord said to her, 'My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discover it and I won't take it away from her.'" What a shocker to Martha! Jesus was simply telling her that the Word of God  is more important than anything else, and is the only thing worth being concerned about. It is worth of our attention and meditation. It is spirit and it is life (John 6:63), it is health to our body (Proverbs 4: 20-22), and the source of our prosperity  and success (Joshua 1:8). 

Time spent in the Word of God is a time well-spent. 

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Discussion Questions

1. Why does God ask us to crave His work like babies crave milk (1 Peter 2:2)?

2.What is the result of meditating in the Word (Joshua 1:8)?

3.How can we make our ways pure (Psalm 119:9)?

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