Bellevue Student Ministry

"The Good Part"

“For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for your life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?” Matthew 6:25

If there was a medal to be won for the world’s best worrier, I would win gold. Whether enormous or small, I seem to worry about it all. However, God’s word teaches that worry is a sin (Matthew 6:25), and it is a complete waste of time (Matthew 6:27). These thoughts of worry bombard us daily, “What if I fail this test,” “Will my audition or interview go well,” “Will I perform with excellence at my job today,” and so many more.

How do we break this cycle of worry? I am so glad you asked! Jesus clearly gives us the solution in Luke 10:42. The setting: while Jesus and His disciples were traveling, they came to a certain village, and a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home. Martha desired to be an exceptional hostess to Jesus and His men – surely a noble aspiration! However, in doing the good thing, she neglected the best! Distracted by preparations, cleaning, and cooking she forgot about the company she was entertaining. Noticing that she was doing all of “the work” on her own, she informed Jesus that her sister Mary should be assisting in her labor. Where was Mary? Why was she absent in Martha’s time of need? She was “listening to the Lord’s word, seated at His feet” (Luke 10:39). Jesus responded to Martha about her dilemma by saying, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

What is the one thing that I am focused on today? Waking up this morning, was my mind flooded with thoughts of the tasks for the day ahead, or were my thoughts centered on the Lord? Instead of worrying, may each of us listen to the Lord’s word, sit at His feet, and with prayer and thanksgiving present our requests to our Master and Lord. When we present our anxieties to Him in this way, the result is this: “And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:7).

Jennie McKay