The Good Part of Mary.
I. It would appear from this incident, on our Saviour's own authority, that there are two ways of serving Him by active business and by quiet adoration. Not as if His words implied that any Christians were called to nothing but religious worship, or any to nothing but active employment. Still, after all, there are two classes of Christians: those who are like Martha, and those like Mary; and both of them glorify Him in their own line, whether of labour or of quiet, in either case proving themselves to be not their own, but bought with a price, set on obeying, and constant in obeying His will. If they labour it is for His sake; and if they adore it is still from love of Him. And further, these two classes of disciples do not choose for themselves their course of service, but are allotted it by Him. The necessity of getting a livelihood, the calls of a family, the duties of station and office, these are God's tokens, tracing out Martha's path for the many. Notice, then, who may be considered as called to the more favoured portion of Mary. (1) The old, as is material, whose season of business is past, and who seem to be thereby reminded to serve God by prayer and contemplation. (2) Those who minister at the altar are included in Mary's portion. (3) Children are in some respects partakers of Mary's portion. Till they go out into the world, whether into its trades or its professions, their school-time should be in some sort a contemplation of their Lord and Saviour. (4) We are told on St. Paul's authority, that Mary's portion is allotted more or less to the unmarried. (5) In Mary's portion are included the souls of those who have lived and died in the faith and fear of Christ.
II. Mary's portion is the better of the two. Martha's portion was full of snares, as being one of worldly labour, but Mary could not easily go wrong in hers; we may be busy in a wrong way, we cannot easily adore Him except in a right one. To serve God in prayer and praise continually, when we can do so consistently with other duties, is the pursuit of the one thing needful, and emphatically that good thing which shall not be taken away from us.
J. H. Newman, Parochial and Plain Sermons,vol. iii., p. 318.
The One Thing Needful.
These words imply that in order to constitute human happiness two things are essential.
I. That there must be one predominating interest in the life, not a multiplicity of interests, swaying the mind by turns. "Thou art careful and troubled about many things; but one thing is needful."
II. That this predominating interest must not be of a transient nature, must have reference not to time, but to eternity; "Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."
E. M. Goulburn, Sermons in the Parish Church of Holywell,p. 291.
References: Luke 10:41. H. J. Wilmot-Buxton, Sunday Sermonettes for a Year,p. 101.Luke 10:41; Luke 10:42. M. R. Vincent, God and Bread,p. 39; T. J. Crawford, The Preaching of the Cross,p. 255; Preacher's Monthly,vol. iii., p. 350; C. Girdlestone, Twenty Parochial Sermons,3rd series, p. 85; W. Gresley, Practical Sermons,p. 341; R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons,2nd series, p. 196. Luke 10:42. A. Blomfield, Sermons in Town and Country,p. 324; G. Calthrop, Words spoken to My Friends,p. 61; S. Cox, The Bird's Nest,p. 113; Outline Sermons to Children,p. 156; W. P. Lockhart, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xvi., p. 408; J. Keble, Sermons on Various Occasions,p. 287; Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xvii., No. 1015.Luke 10:42. H. D. Rawnsley, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxxii., p. 186.