The Good Portion
God’s Heart
Opening your heart to God’s Word is a beautiful, life-altering experience. God’s Word is His heart. As we read it and reflect upon it, the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and guides us according to His perfect will for our lives.
The story of Martha and Mary in Luke’s Gospel is a familiar story about two sisters who essentially invite Jesus to their house for lunch. We know them as Lazarus’ sisters - the one Jesus raised from the dead. As much as we may already know about Jesus’ encounters with the two sisters, we may not associate their story with the story of Abraham or the Promised Land. However, it is actually a vivid depiction of how Jesus fulfills the promise of land and an inheritance to Abraham and his offspring - one that encourages us to stay the course toward Jesus - our true destination.
Luke 10:38-42:
38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
We see in this brief narrative that Mary chooses Jesus - sitting in His presence and listening to His Word. Mary understands that Jesus is her destination, and she fixes her gaze upon Him. Martha directs her attention to the work that does in fact need to be done, but in so doing, veers off course and misses out on the presence of the Lord. We learn two things from Jesus’ answer to Martha’s seemingly legitimate complaints about her sister - 1) Jesus is the one thing that is necessary and 2) Jesus will not be taken away from the one who moves toward Him. These two simple beautiful truths speak volumes. In a world where everything else can be taken from us in the blink of an eye, there is great hope in Jesus - a Savior, who provides all we need and can never be taken from us. He is the fulfillment of all God’s promises. He is the destination.
Interestingly, the language Jesus uses when he answers Martha echoes a number of Old Testament Scriptures and has everything to do with God’s covenant with Abraham. Jesus says, “Mary has chosen the good portion” or some translations say the good part.
This idea of portion or part in the Old Testament was used regarding plots of land and the allocation and possession of land. Chapters 33 and 34 in the book of Numbers is actually dedicated to the division of the Promised Land into portions. The portions of land attributed to each of the tribes of Israel is based upon the size of the tribe. There are many rules about transferring land and safeguarding designated portions of land within the given tribes. It is important; it is about what belongs to whom and everyone getting their fair share.
However, as in the case of Luke10:42, the idea of portion in Scripture is also often attributed to the Lord. When it is used to describe the Lord, it is used in regard to Him being the greatest possession one could have or choose.
We notice in the Psalms, most notably Psalm 16:5-6, with the use of the terms portion, plot, lines, and inheritance, that the language which is related to the allocation of the land into family plots, also promotes contentment in the life of one who chooses and in a sense, possesses, the Lord.
Psalm 16:5-6:
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my plot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
Psalm 142:5:
I cry to you, O LORD; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.”
Psalm 73:26:
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
The term portion is also used regarding the inheritance of the Levites - the priestly tribe.
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.”
This verse speaks of how the priestly tribe would not be entitled to an inheritance of land like the other tribes. The reason is that as they serve in the Lord’s presence in the tabernacle, the Lord Himself becomes their portion. His very presence is their inheritance.
When Jesus speaks of Mary choosing the good portion, He uses the language of inheritance for a reason. Essentially, He says that Mary has chosen Him as a treasured possession and will have a rich inheritance in Him as a result. Jesus is Mary’s good portion.
As Christ followers, we are Abraham’s offspring and our inheritance expands far beyond the Promised Land with its parts and plots. In Christ, our portion is not a part. It is not a plot marked off with boundary lines. In Christ, we don’t get a part; we get everything! We get it all.
As Paul indicates, the promise to Abraham and his offspring is that “he would be heir of the world.” The inheritance in Christ is no longer a defined territory for the Jews; rather all people who put their faith in Christ inherit the entire world - the new heavens and the new earth.
The blessing of this inheritance is powerful and far-reaching and goes far beyond an earthly location. Jesus is the destination - the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise, and in that, He truly is the good portion. We will spend all of eternity in His presence. He is all we need, and He will not be taken away from us.
Share Your Heart
Consider the following discussion starters as you share your hearts with one another:
While doing some very necessary and important work - serving a meal to her family and her very special guest, Jesus - Martha veers off course. She allows the tasks of daily life to pull her away from the presence of God. She forgets that Jesus is the destination.
Do you ever veer off course while doing good and important work? Discuss how you can stay in the Lord’s presence without shirking your responsibilities.
The story of Martha and Mary teaches us some important lessons on how to reach our destination in Jesus while we still sojourn upon the earth. Mary reaches her destination in Christ. She prioritizes His presence above all else.
What are two things Jesus says about the good portion Mary choses? How do those two things encourage you?
We have been saying since the beginning of this series that Abraham’s legacy of faith is part of our legacy as people of faith - people of the promise. He is our roots, our history, our people. As this series comes to a close, do you see similarities to his story in your own story? What are some common themes, struggles, or victories you share with Abraham?
The Cries of Your Heart
At Hearts Together Women, we believe that the Lord hears the cries of our hearts.
We also believe in prayer partnership because God’s Word teaches us that partnering with one another in prayer is powerful.
James 5:16 says, “Therefore…pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”
And Jesus encourages us, “When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there” (Matthew 18:19-20, The Message).
What amazing promises!
Here is how prayer partnership works at a Hearts Together Gathering:
After we share in the Word and discussion, your facilitator will ask each woman for her prayer requests. All you need to do is share your requests - the cries of your heart - because we all have them.
We encourage you to request prayer for 1) your own needs; 2) the needs of your family and loved ones; and 3) the needs you see around you - in the workplace, the school, the neighborhood or even the nation.
After the requests are shared, your gathering facilitator will lead in a prayer for the needs that were put forth.
In the following days, we encourage you to pray for the requests of the other women in your gathering. They will do the same for you. That’s what prayer partnership is all about!
As we partner with one another in prayer, we trust the Lord will meet with us and answer us in accordance with His perfect will.
Your Heart to His
Maybe you felt the Holy Spirit stirring something in your heart during this gathering. It doesn’t have to end here. Take it home. In the followings days, continue to pursue Him. Spend some time alone and quiet, away from the noise of life - just you and Jesus.
Tell Him the cries of your heart. He is listening; He cares, and He does answer. Praying is kind of like having a conversation with your best friend. He created you, so He already knows everything about you. He just wants to be with you.
After you pray, reread the Scriptures and thoughts under God’s Heart. Reflect upon the verses and how they speak to you and your life.
Here are some things you might contemplate and pray about:
As Christ followers, we are Abraham’s offspring along with and in Christ - heirs of God and coheirs with Christ. In Him, our inheritance expands far beyond the Promised Land with its parts and plots. In Christ, our portion is not a part. In Christ, we don’t get a part; we get everything! We get Him. Contemplate your journey toward Jesus. Take the example of Mary, who knew what she had in Him and chose Him above all else. Jesus is your destination. Fix your gaze upon Him today and ask him to help you to choose Him - the one thing necessary that will not be taken away from you. Jesus is your destination.
This is just between you and Jesus - your heart to His. Make space in your busy days to spend some time with Him.
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Do you have a Bible? If not, there are many digital options - Bible apps, etc. We suggest starting with John’s Gospel.
