What is Jesus’ Worth to You Today?

The story of Mary and Martha is a story of priorities. It’s a story of how much worth do we put on Jesus Christ. It is not only that we love Jesus, but it is why we love Him. When Jesus came to earth He upped the ante on us. Jesus said that if you look upon a woman lustfully you have already committed adultery with her in your heart. If you are angry with your brother you are committing murder, the only difference between anger and murder is a single physical step, the thought process is the same. So it is not just about what we do, but it is about why we do it. (Matt 5:27-28; Matt 5:21-22)

Jesus wants to get at the why’s that are imbedded in our hearts, for if the why’s are corrected and pointed in the right direction then what we do will follow in suit. Mary’s story in this passage shows us a picture of Mary’s love for Jesus. It is a grand picture of the worth she put on Jesus, and the priority that she gave Him.

Luke 10:38-42
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 only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

It was a great honor to have Jesus in Mary and Martha’s home and to be able to hear His personal words in their household. Martha should have given this the same priority that Mary did. There were physical needs that needed to be met also, but Jesus had already proven that He could even feed people miraculously (the feeding of the 5,000, Joh 6:5-13). There really wasn't anything more important than listening to Jesus.

According to Jesus’ own words is that Mary chose what was better. Mary chose to prioritize her time with Jesus, she put a worth upon this relationship over and above everything else. Many times we put a greater worth on serving as Martha was doing here and even to the extent that Martha told Jesus what to do. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” We get so caught up in serving that it is the serving that we worship rather than Jesus himself. Jesus wants to make sure that our focus and worth is on Him and not on just what we can do for Him.

Martha was not wrong in serving Jesus and His disciples. Other women ministered to Jesus in this way (Lu 8:2-3, Mt 8:15) without being corrected. Serving was a good thing, but Martha had put it in the wrong place. Her problem was priorities and why she was serving, not that she had served.

Just like Martha, many of us today are occupied with things that keep us from hearing the words of Jesus. It is easy to recognize and turn from things that are obviously sin, but even good things that we are involved in must be prioritized so that nothing takes the place of seeking first the kingdom of God (Mt 6:33).

Mary had a heart to really know God deeply and to be a true worshiper, Jesus commended her for that. Let us be a Mary and not a Martha, what is the worth that you put on Jesus at any given time? Are you so caught up with serving and doing or are you being in Christ? You are not a human doing, you are a human being! Out of your being you then can go and do, but you must first be.

g jeremiah williamson