Better Part

When Martha tried to get Mary in trouble for not helping out around the house when they had a guest over, it backfired. Jesus, the guest, told Martha that Mary had chose the better part and it would never be taken away from her.

Mary had been sitting near Jesus' feet listening to him and learning from him. What does it mean that it will never be taken away from her? Does that mean she couldn't be made to do something else? Does it mean that what she learned at His feet could never be taken away from her?

I've talked with people who have gotten caught up in serving others and I have used this story to illustrate that serving isn't all there is to life. Luke put it this way, you got to take care of yourself before you try to take care of others. Mary was taking care of herself, she was putting herself in Jesus' presence and just sitting there, taking it all in.

We must do this. This is the better part. Would you rather have the chicken's breast meat or the neck? Which is the better part? The chicken breast. So sit in the presence of God and drink him in. Choose the better part.