While I Was Reading... #2

 38 ¶Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named ^aMartha received him into her house.

 39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

 40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art ^acareful and troubled about many things:

 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath ^achosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

--Luke 10:38-42

This is one of my favorite biblical stories. It used to confuse me-- we are taught that work is a good thing, and that was what Martha was doing. She probably didn't mean anything bad by it, and I doubt the Lord chastised her in any way. Ever since I heard a lesson about this story in Relief Society, this story gained a special place in my heart, but I never really felt like I knew what to do with it, or how to apply it in my life (if that makes sense). It wasn't until I read it on my own, for my personal scripture study, that something occurred to me.

Sometimes we turn into Martha, where we are concerned with work and serving and taking care of things, going here and being there and cleaning this and doing that. Our primary goal, however, is to be like Mary. Before all the business of life, above all the tasks that we must accomplish, more important than anything that needs to get done, we must do the things that are needful... we must read our scriptures, pray often, have our hearts constantly turned towards Christ and His Gospel. We must be ready to listen when He speaks to us. We must always sit at His feet, and hear His word. There will be time to serve the Lord later; for now, hear His word. I love the scriptures.