This post was inspired by a Bible game we enjoyed playing last night. The game was called, "Would You Rather...?" To play the game, all you have to do is choose one of the two options given you. Example: Would you rather live in Noah's ark with all the stinky animals, or be stuck in the belly of Jonah's big fish?
The two options have their good and bad, don't they?
LUKE 10:38-42, KJV
38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.
39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word.
40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.
41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.
Martha was often cumbered with the cares of daily duties, while Mary sought first the words of Jesus.
Was Martha wrong is choosing to make preparations for the guests? I don't think so! I guess it's a matter of personal choice, usually based on what we perceived as necessary at the moment.
“All who work for God should have the Martha and the Mary attributes blended — a willingness to minister and a sincere love of the truth. Self and selfishness must be put out of sight. God calls for earnest women workers, workers who are prudent, warmhearted, tender, and true to principle. He calls for persevering women who will take their minds from self . . . and will center them on Christ, speaking words of truth, praying with the persons to whom they can obtain access, laboring for the conversion of souls.” —Testimony Treasures, vol. 2, 405
So, would you rather be a Martha or a Mary?
An encouragement for the MARTHAs out there:
The “one thing” that Martha needed was a calm, devotional spirit, a deeper anxiety for knowledge concerning the future, immortal life, and the graces necessary for spiritual advancement. She needed less anxiety for the things which pass away, and more for those things which endure forever. Jesus would teach His children to seize every opportunity of gaining that knowledge which will make them wise unto salvation. The cause of Christ needs careful, energetic workers. There is a wide field for the Marthas, with their zeal in active religious work. But let them first sit with Mary at the feet of Jesus. Let diligence, promptness, and energy be sanctified by the grace of Christ; then the life will be an unconquerable power for good.—The Desire of Ages, 525 (1898).
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