Choosing the “Good Portion”

In continuing our look at Work and Worship, I am peering into the story of Martha, Mary, and Jesus in Luke 10. I have been meditating on worship and how my actions rarely reflect an attitude of worship. Often, my attitude as I work is an attitude of self-worship not worship of Jesus- just like my sister- Miss Martha.

I am zeroing in on: Luke 10:42 “but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

So, what is the good portion?
Many time in scripture, you find “portion” being associated with heritage, right, inheritance, or simply portion of land. Here are some examples where “portion” is used:

Psalm 119:57 The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep your words.
Psalm 142:5 I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
Numbers 18:20 and the LORD said to Aaron, “You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them. I am your portion and your inheritance among the people of Israel.

Jesus is the “portion” of Jacob, he is our “portion.” Yet, we so easily miss him. The whole Bible is unified and points us to Jesus. My whole life is meant to be about giving God glory, enjoying Him, being satisfied in Him- true worship. Yet, my distractions are set up as idols replacing Jesus. My attention, my worship is distracted.

In John Calvin’s commentary on this- he said-“Martha, by distracting her attention, and undertaking more labor than was necessary, deprived herself of the advantage of Christ’s visit.”

Martha chose to deprive herself by fluttering around distracted with much toil, and Mary chose the good portion. The portion was Christ himself.

Reminder of Grace: As God reveals His truth to me, I am comforted by Christ’s provisional grace to move in my heart, as HE SEEKS worshippers. My heart is being transformed, by grace. God is my portion, my desire, my REWARD!

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