8 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42
One thing have I asked of the Lord,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to inquire in his temple. Psalm 27:413 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:13-14
A. The Misplaced Priority of Martha and Its Consequences
1. The misplaced priority of relationship
a) Abiding versus accomplishing – John 15:1-9
b) Beholding versus busyness – Hebrews 12:1-2; 2 Cor. 3:18
2. The consequences in the misplaced priority of Martha
a) Martha suffered a barren soul.
b) Martha allowed distractions. 1 Cor. 7:35; Luke 10:40-41
c) Martha developed critical attitudes. Luke 10:40
d) Martha mischaracterized the Lord. Mark 4:36-41
B. The Proper Priority of Mary and Its Blessings
1. The proper priority of relationship
a) With the Living Word – Jesus
b) Through the Spoken Word – Jesus
2. The model of Mary
a) Exercised wise use of time – Ephesians 5:15
b) Disciplined listener – Proverbs 25:28
c) Hunger for the Word of God – 1 Peter 2:1-3
d) Rewarded by the Lord – Jeremiah 29:11-14