Choose the Best Part

All people are created equal but all things do not have equal value or importance. Choosing the best part is a very important part of life. When God created man in His own image, He created him with an inherent freedom to make choices. We should rejoice in that freedom.

The freedom to choose provides both opportunity and responsibility. We are not robots programed to carry out a predetermined course of action. Our intelligence, likes and dislikes, aspirations and goals and most importantly, our understanding of God instituted spiritual and moral truths, can enter into our choices. When an individual or a society ignores or by-passes the spiritual and moral truths of scripture, our choices become selfish and sinful.

In Luke 10:38-42 Jesus used a visit to the home of Mary and Martha to demonstrate that all choices are not equal. During this visit Martha chose to busy herself making preparations and being a good host to their visitor. Mary chose to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to what He had to say. Martha became very irritated with her sister because she was leaving all the preparatory work to her. She voiced her irritation to Jesus. "...Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me" (Luke 10:40, NIV)!

Jesus' response to Martha is the main point of this blog and the purpose for which I am writing it. "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41, 42, NIV). Jesus said that Mary's choice was what was needed. This speaks of value. Mary's choice was the better choice because she chose what was superior. Devoting ourselves to spiritual things will always have more value and yield greater rewards than fixating on the physical and material demands of life.

If each of us did an honest evaluation of our interest and choices, where is our concern and what are we choosing? Are we more concerned about spiritual matters? Are we choosing better things?

Think of all the choices that are being made each second of every day. Individuals, people in positions of influence and power and citizens of every nation are exercising their God given freedom. How many of these choices will follow the pattern of Martha essentially driven by selfish interests and concerns? How many will be made sitting at the feet of Jesus and listened to His infallible words? In a very real way, when we read the words of Christ given to us through scripture, we are seizing the opportunity to sit at the feet of Jesus.

How can we be certain what is best in every situation? Granted choices can be difficult. Paul writing in Philippians 4:8 gives us a great tool to evaluate our choices and make the better choice. "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things" (Philippians 4:8, NIV).

There is always a better way, a better part. If we like Mary choose the better part, it will not be taken away from us though it may be suppressed or ridiculed. Choosing the better part will benefit the individual, the family, the society and ultimately, the world. God help me to choose the better part.