THE PRESSING VERSUS THE NEEDFUL

Luke 10:38-42

Victor M. Eskew

 

            All of us wage a war when it comes to priorities.  So many things in life are pressing.  We have our daily duties that need to be done:  washing clothes and cutting the grass.  We have projects that need to be done:  painting that room in the house or cleaning out the garage.  We have responsibilities to others that must get done:  preparing a meal or caring for the neighbor’s pet.  We have obligations that will better our lives if we do them:  finishing school or completing the requirements at work for a better position.  All of these things constantly press upon us.  In our minds we think:  “I have to get these pressing things done.”  In fact, we are not satisfied until these things have been completed.

            Martha found herself in a similar position at one point in her life.  The account is found in the last few verses of the tenth chapter of Luke’s gospel.  The text first reveals A FRIEND IN HER HOME.  “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” (Luke 11:38).  There were two things that put pressure on Martha at this time.  First, the person who had come into Martha’s home put pressure on her.  This was Jesus.  It was her close friend.  He was also the Son of God.  He was the long anticipated Messiah of Israel.  For Him, she wanted everything to be perfect.  Second, the traditions of that time period put pressure on her.  Hospitality was taken very seriously.  The host was to provide for the needs of her guests and protect those who had entered into her home.  Martha understood the responsibility that was laid upon her and was not about to shirk her duties to her guest.

            Caring for her guests should have been a very simple matter.  Martha was not alone in her house.   She had a sister named Mary who could take on some of the responsibilities in caring for their guest.  This, however, did not happen.  Mary was distracted from her domestic duties.  In Luke 10:39, we read about THE FOCUS OF MARY.  “And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.”  Mary was enthralled with the teachings of the Master.  Instead of serving, she was sitting.  Instead of helping, she was heeding the words of Jesus.  Instead of feeding, she was being fed.

            Mary’s actions brought much frustration to Martha.  We read about THE FRUSTRATION OF MARTHA in Luke 10:40.  “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.”  Martha was overwhelmed with the hospitality she was trying to provide her guest.  Most likely, the apostles of Jesus were there as well.  Martha was doing all she could do to take care of those pressing matters.  The Bible says she was cumbered about much serving.  We can see her as she dashes about in her home.  She brings plates of food and drinks to her guests.  She refills their cups.  She checks on the food that is still cooking.  She brings more food when the plates are empty.  She cleans up the spills.  She picks up any food that is dropped.  Each time she enters the room, she sees Mary who refuses to help.  She just sits there listening to Jesus like the men.  Frustrated, she approached the Lord and exhorted Him to bid Mary to help her. 

            Jesus’ response probably took Martha by surprise.  She was probably sure that Jesus would turn to her sister and encourage her to assist her.  This, however, did not happen.  Instead, Jesus presented Martha with some important facts.  THE FACTS OF JESUS are found in Luke 10:41-42.  “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou are 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.”  Kindly and gently Jesus taught Martha about priorities.  He acknowledged her dilemma.  She was worried and troubled about the pressing matters of hospitality.  He, then, admonished her about what was needful.  “But one thing is needful,” He said.  Sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His divine and holy words, and feeding one’s soul with the manna that was from above was the most important matter at hand.  Jesus defended Mary with these words:  “…and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” 

            There are many times in life that we are faced with having to make decisions between the pressing and the needful.  We could say that we have to make decisions between the physical and the spiritual.  So often, we are like Martha.  We believe the pressing, the physical things of the world, are more important than the spiritual.  We need to learn to see that “one thing is needful.”  The care of our soul is the most important thing in the world.  It should always come first.  All others things can wait.  Even if we miss out on something that seems pressing, we should stay focused on the things upon which Mary focused.  Remember, she “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.” 

            We often think that the pressing is the most important thing at the moment.  We are convinced that the physical is more significant than the spiritual.  We are persuaded that the spiritual things can be put off until later.  Thus, we fail to choose “that good part.”  Each one of us needs to pray that we can always see the needful, even when we can feel the anxiety of the pressing.  When the time comes to make our decision, we need to be like Mary and choose the good part.  Others might ridicule us, but the Lord will defend us and compliment the wise decision we have made.