Mary and Martha, and their brother Lazarus, lived together in the little village of Bethany, in Judea. They were intimate and beloved friends of the great Master, Christ Jesus. On a certain occasion, he was a guest in their home. Anxious to see that their honored guest was properly entertained, Martha was busily engaged "about much serving," while Mary, her sister, "sat at Jesus' feet," listening to his word.
Apparently more interested in the material and temporal than her sister Mary, and seemingly affected with a sense of self-pity, Martha came to Jesus and asked the Master to bid her sister participate in the serving. The Master quickly responded, "Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her." Mary had chosen to learn the glorious truth which Jesus said and proved would set men free—free from human discord, disease, sin, want, and woe.
How often we allow a sense of secular responsibilities and activities to occupy our time and thought to such an extent that we deprive ourselves of the "good part," the better part, namely, quiet meditation, listening to the voice of Christ, Truth, which is ever available to guide us in our demonstration of God's infinite goodness! How often we awake, sometimes after much suffering, to find that we have not put first things first; that we have not first of all sought "the kingdom of God, and his righteousness," which meets every human need! How often, because of their lack of spiritual enlightenment, have men been seriously misled in their undertakings! Christ Jesus said, "Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God"—see and experience good.
