Mary and Martha (Lk 10:38-42)

What place should the Word of God have in the life of the believer? I believe it should be first and foremost above everything else.

Certainly the record of Jesus' visit with Mary and Martha shows us this. Commentaries on this passage generally point out that Mary and Martha both had their good points, and this is true. But our Lord did not point out Mary and Martha's good points; rather, He reproved Martha and commended Mary regarding one thing in particular.

What was that one thing? So many times I have heard this portrayed as an example to us to spend more time in prayer, but I don't think that is the main point of this passage because Mary was not praying — she was sitting at Jesus' feet listening to what He said. Mary had chosen what was better and Jesus said it would not be taken away from her (v 42).

Therefore, while prayer, testimony, and good works are certainly important in our lives, hearing God's Word is the most important. In fact, if we are in the Word, all the rest will follow naturally. We must study Scripture prayerfully and with an open heart, however, or we will read into it our own prejudices, seeing what we want to see. And this of course emphasizes yet again the importance of "accurately handling the Word of God."

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of God (2 Tim 2:15).