At the Home of Martha and Mary

³⁸ As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. ³⁹ She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

⁴¹ “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, ⁴² but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:38-42

Martha! Martha! – Insert your name there. Why are you worried about many things? Why are you worried about rent, fuel, jobs, taxes, the economy? Why are you worried about pandemics? Why are you upset that friends and family have turned against you?

Why are you distracted by how others define you? Why are you taken aback by names that have been stamped on you? Tell me, should your previous mistakes define your future successes? Why do you look down upon yourself? Why are you struggling to match up your rivals?

Why should accolades and titles define you? It is not education that maketh rich. Neither is it inheritance nor luck. A few things are needed – or indeed only one and it is your turn to choose what is better.

In Luke 10:38, Jesus and his disciples were at the home of Mary and Martha. Martha was busy preparing tea or that which she was preparing in the kitchen for Jesus and His disciples. Mary was sitting at the feet of Jesus keenly listening to Him. Martha was overwhelmed by cooking the tea and asked Jesus to release Mary so that she can help her.

But Jesus told her that all the cooking and preparations never mattered. All that mattered was for her to eat what would make her never get hungry again and that was what her sister chose to do.

Seek Ye First

Most Christians are like Mary. They try so much in their power to make things right and when they realize that in their power they are helpless they ask God, “Lord, don’t you care that I have tried everything and failed? Won’t you come to my rescue?”

And the Lord being gentle, loving, and caring says to them, “You worry about so many things. You inflict such a huge burden upon yourself. Only one thing is needed, seek ye first my kingdom and all things shall be added unto you!”

Most people worry about their future, their kids, the stability of their jobs, their health, and even their death. But all is needed is for one to enter God’s rest, to be one with the Spirit of God. I remember recently my Spiritual father told me this and I quote, “Siloma, there is somewhere called the Spirit of God, enter there!”

I kept meditating about where that place was. I only know of the Spirit as a person but not as a place. But then I kept thinking why the Garden of Eden was all beautiful and heavenly. It was because Adam walked with the Spirit of God. I then meditated about the verse Matthew 6:33. I asked myself what is the kingdom of God?

The kingdom of God is basically peace and joy. This is why the Scripture says that, ‘the joy of the Lord is my strength’. The verse says that one should seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Righteousness means ‘right standing’. It simply means being in the right standing with God.

When the Bible says that you seek first the kingdom, it simply says that you desire to have joy and peace in life because that’s where God resides. It also tells you to be in the consciousness of God becuase that is how He talks to you.

Conclusion

Martha! Martha! Why do you spend time seeking God where He isn’t? Why do you spend time trying to be perfect? Only few things are important. Only one thing is needed and once you get it, it will not be taken from you. Take time to hear from God. His Spirit lives in you. Imagine God, the Creator of the Heavens and earth lives in you and He will never leave you nor forsake you!