The Only Thing To Worry About
Feb 2, 2017 2166
If you’re like me, then you’re a worrier. We worry about all kinds of things. It’s a strange thing. It’s almost as if we were in charge of the universe, isn’t it?
Martha was a worrier too, especially when she had an important guest home for dinner! The house had to be clean, the meal had to be prepared with care, and she had to make herself presentable.
Jesus arrived early, and waited while Martha rushed around, putting the finishing touches on the meal. Where was that sister of hers when she was needed? Probably off daydreaming somewhere!
Martha rushed around the little home, looking for Mary, and she found her sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to his every word. So she decided to put Mary in her place by publicly rebuking her. After all, in that culture, women should be serving their guests.
What Jesus says next would have been very surprising, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset over many things, but there are only a few things worth worrying about – and if you really think about it…” (paraphrased)
There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her (Luke 10:42, NLT).
Think about what Jesus said. We can lose all the things that we so often worry about, can’t we? But there is one thing, that if we discover it, we will never lose.
Mary had many things to worry about (assuming she was the same person as Mary Magdalene) but she was focused on only one thing: being in the presence of Jesus. She had discovered that when she was in Jesus’ presence, all of the other things that she worried about fell into their proper place, and she could face them with peace, and yes, even joy.
This is a trait that Mary has. In the house of Simon the Pharisee (Luke 7:36–50), Mary had a lot to be worried about there: her reputation, the accusing looks, the condemnation. But she didn’t worry about that. Her only focus was to be in the presence of Jesus, bathing his feet with her tears of gratitude and love.
Life’s too short to worry about everything. It would have sent anyone nuts. Instead, why not focus on that one thing that is truly worth focusing on?
It’s the treasure hidden in a field, and when a man discovers that there is treasure there, he sells everything he has to buy that one field. It’s the pearl of great price for which a man gave all of his wealth to possess (Matthew 13).
It’s the Kingdom of Heaven. And where the King is, there is also the Kingdom.
Like Martha, I need often to be reminded that there’s no better place to be than at the feet of Jesus. The meal can wait. – Eliezer Gonzalez
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