A Good Part

The New Testament story of Mary and Martha has troubled me.  With my personality I have always known that I would be much more of a "Martha".  I would not have chosen the 'better part' like Mary and sat at Jesus's feet while he and other guests went hungry.  I would have been 'cumbered about much serving.'  

A careful reading of this story in the book of Luke clarifies a couple of things.  First of all, Martha had been learning from Jesus.

Luke 10:38 ¶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.

 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

 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.

 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

So both sisters had been learning from Him before Martha left and started serving.

The real insight came at Education Week as I learned from Michael Wilcox that the scriptures don't say, "better part'.  The scriptures say, "that good part."  Mary had chosen that good part; one of several good parts if you will.  There was no judgement as to who was doing the right thing. 

To be 'careful and troubled ' is what women do.  We are caregivers, we are full of care for others. We worry about physical needs.  Food and clothing and all the many things that we as women are careful and troubled about is needful and a good part.  Sometimes though, we must learn to choose a different 'good part' and replenish our spiritual stores.  Scripture study, temple attendance, friends, meditation, relaxing.....we have to make time in our busy lives of service to also choose that part that will 'not be taken away'. As we make Jesus Christ the focal point of our lives, as did both Mary and Martha, we will indeed have “chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away.”