Choosing the Better Portion
To watch the sermon Sitting At the Feet of Jesus | Luke 10:38-42
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Why Sitting at Jesus' Feet Matters More Than Your To-Do List
In our fast-paced world filled with endless responsibilities, deadlines, and distractions, it's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life. We worry about answering emails, finishing projects, planning meals, meeting deadlines, and keeping up with the latest news. But what if there's something more important than all of that?
What Does It Mean to Sit at Jesus' Feet?
When we hear about "sitting at Jesus' feet," it's natural to think practically about all the things that still need to get done. After all, we can't just abandon our responsibilities, right? But sitting at Jesus' feet isn't about neglecting our duties - it's about prioritizing our relationship with Him above everything else.
This concept comes from the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42, where Jesus tells Martha that while she's worried and troubled about many things, "one thing is needed. Mary has chosen the better portion. It will not be taken from her."
Why Do We Struggle with Spending Time with God?
Many believers go through seasons of doing well with their quiet time, feeling spiritually full and able to pour out from the overflow. Then there are seasons of feeling overwhelmed and discouraged, wondering why God chose someone so unqualified for the tasks at hand.
The struggle is real. Seasons change, schedules fill up, to-do lists never end, and distractions abound. Even when we create special spaces for prayer and worship, consistency can be challenging.
The Conviction That Changes Everything
Sometimes God uses our relationships to teach us about our relationship with Him. Just as we might feel hurt when someone we love doesn't prioritize time with us, God desires quality time with His children too. When we say quality time is important to us but don't prioritize time with our heavenly Father, we're living inconsistently with our stated values.
The beautiful truth is that God is always listening and always available. He's not looking for perfect performance or flawless consistency - He's looking for hearts that genuinely desire to be with Him.
What Can We Learn from Mary's Example?
Throughout Scripture, every time Mary is mentioned, she's found in one prominent position: at the feet of Jesus. Her story teaches us three crucial lessons about why this position matters.
Sitting at His Feet to Learn
In Luke 10, Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His teaching while Martha was distracted with preparations. This was countercultural - women weren't typically taught Torah the way men were. But Jesus affirmed that Mary had "chosen the better portion."
Mary wasn't shirking her responsibilities; she was prioritizing learning from the Rabbi. As disciples (students) of Jesus, we too need to make time to sit and learn from Him through His Word and prayer.
Falling at His Feet to Lament
In John 11, when Lazarus died, Mary fell at Jesus' feet in her grief, saying, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." She teaches us that when life falls apart, when we experience devastating loss, when our hearts are breaking, we can run straight to Jesus and fall at His feet.
Jesus understands our pain because He walked this earth and felt what we feel. He is near to the brokenhearted, and we can bring our deepest sorrows to Him.
Kneeling at His Feet to Worship
In John 12, Mary took expensive aromatic oil worth a year's wages and anointed Jesus' feet, then wiped them with her hair. This was an act of extravagant worship that demonstrated her understanding of who Jesus truly was.
While others argued about positions and status, Mary simply wanted to be close to Jesus. Her proximity to Him gave her insight that even the disciples missed - she anointed Him for burial six days before Passover.
How Does Worship Transform Our Priorities?
True worship is an exchange where we lay down our plans, ambitions, and the things we cling to, declaring that God is worth more than all of it. When we're close to Jesus, everything else begins to lose its grip on us.
Mary's worship involved sacrifice - she poured out what was most valuable to her, and she laid down her dignity and pride by using her hair (considered a woman's glory) to wipe Jesus' feet. She wasn't concerned about what others thought; she just wanted to be near Jesus.
What Are We Holding Onto Instead of Laying Down?
We all have "jars" in our lives - things we've assigned value to and are protecting instead of placing at Jesus' feet. These might be:
Recognition or platform
Success or security
Control or pride
Reputation or fear of what others think
Material possessions or financial security
Worship isn't just about singing songs or attending church. It's deciding that His presence is worth more than everything we've been holding onto, striving for, and finding comfort in.
Why Is God's Presence the Ultimate Reward?
Sometimes we replace being with Jesus with doing things for Jesus. We turn our faith into a checklist of things to do, say, and prove. But when this happens, we start seeking our reward in doing instead of recognizing that the real reward is His presence.
The greatest reward has always been Him. When we discover the value of being at Jesus' feet, everything else starts to look less important.
How Do We Make Time for What Matters Most?
Making time to sit at Jesus' feet requires intentionality. It means carving out specific time for Him - not just talking to God throughout the day or studying for ministry purposes, but quality time focused on worship, listening, and seeking His face rather than His hand.
The question we must ask ourselves is: How often do we quiet ourselves enough to hear what God is trying to say?
Life Application
This week, challenge yourself to be intentional about spending quality time at Jesus' feet. Create a specific time and place where you can meet with Him daily - not to gain more knowledge for debates or to earn a special place in God's circle, but simply to be with Him.
Consider what "jar" you might be holding onto - what valuable thing in your life needs to be poured out in worship at His feet. Remember that worship is an exchange where we lay down what we treasure most and declare that God is worth more than all of it.
Ask yourself these questions:
What am I holding onto that God might be asking me to lay down at His feet?
How can I prioritize quality time with Jesus in my daily schedule?
What distractions are keeping me from choosing the "better portion" like Mary did?
Am I more focused on doing things for Jesus or being with Jesus?
The most freeing place you can be is when you worship your King without concern for what others think of you. Choose the better portion - it will not be taken from you.