According to the records of the Bible, when the Lord Jesus came the house of Mary and Martha, Martha was encumbered about much serving while Mary sat at the Lord Jesus’ feet and listened to His words. Martha then complained and asked the Lord Jesus to bid Mary to help her. The Lord Jesus said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41–42).
From the above, we can see that the Lord Jesus is more concerned about whether we can listen to His words attentively, and practice His teachings, rather than the amount of good things we have done. Mary focused on listening to God’s words, so she gained the best blessings. This reminds us of those people who only pay attention to external toil. They believe that by putting more effort into spreading the gospel, helping neighbours, and loving people as they love themselves, they will gain God’s approval. They actually have ignored that God loves those who focus on listening to His words.
Just as God says, “God works in those who pursue and treasure His words. The more you treasure God’s words, the more His Spirit will work in you. The more a person treasures God’s words, the greater their chance of being perfected by God. God perfects those who truly love Him, and He perfects those whose hearts are at peace before Him. To treasure all of God’s work, to treasure God’s enlightenment, to treasure God’s presence, to treasure God’s care and protection, to treasure how God’s words become your reality and provide for your life — all this accords best with God’s heart. If you treasure God’s work, that is, if you treasure all the work that He has done upon you, then He will bless you and cause all that is yours to multiply.”
» Extended Reading:
