A question, sometimes asked by pastors to people that have come for guidance because of problems, is a very simple one. “How often do you spend time with the Bible?” Many times, the answer is something like this. “Well, it has been a while since I read the Bible, I just haven’t felt like it.” “I have had so many things happening I haven’t had the time to spend with the Bible.” I don’t have scientific data for this statement; it is purely anecdotal. I believe that 99% of all counseling would not be needed if the person simply did two things. If they were to spend a portion of their every morning with the Bible in study, and second, if they would attend a biblical church for Sunday school (Bible Study Group, Life Group, give it whatever name) and the services, hanging on to the messages preached from the pulpit. Correct decision making would be made known to us. “Wisdom comes from God who gives to all men liberally, very generously, and upbraideth not.” Dr. Harold B. Sightler was the long-time pastor of the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina. Thousands were saved through the ministry. He was asked 75 years ago how much counseling he did each week. “Well, I do about one hour on Sunday morning at 11 AM, I do about one hour on Sunday night around 6 PM. I then do about one hour on Wednesday night at 7 PM. That is most of my counseling.” His belief was if you will come to church and listen to the sermons you will learn truths to guide you through life. I believe that also. Now, I have the conviction that you must personally spend time with Christ during the week, not just Sunday morning.
Mary of Bethany. Does that name do anything for you? Do you know anything about her from the Bible? What was her testimony? Was Jesus important to her? Do you wish to be like her? You can’t really be like her if you don’t know anything about her, can you? She is only mentioned three times in the Bible. We don’t know how old she is (we think a young woman) and we don’t know anything about her parents. However, we do know some things because the Bible reveals them to us. Her brother is named Lazarus. Her sister is named Martha. They all live together in the same house, in a little town very near Jerusalem called Bethany.
*Right now, why don’t you get your Bible and look up three passages. Each one tells us about Mary. Something is said in each that is very revealing as her main goal in her life. Luke 10:38-42…John 11:1-45…John 12:1-8.
You’re back. Every time you read in the Bible about Mary, we find her at the feet of Jesus. The passage in Luke 10 tells us about Martha and her sister, Mary. Martha is irritated that Mary isn’t helping her with the food and serving Jesus’ band of disciples. Where is she and what is she doing? 10:39 we see her sitting at the feet of Christ. In the second passage, John 11, the setting is a funeral. Lazarus the brother of Martha and Mary has died. The sisters quickly send for Jesus when Lazarus became sick. The Lord takes his time in getting to the home and Lazarus dies. 11:32, we find her again at Jesus’ feet. She’s there with a hurting heart, her words are accusatory, but she knows the right place is at the feet of Jesus. The last passage about Mary is John 12. Six days before the Passover celebration, Jesus is sitting at the Bethany house and Mary comes in with a beautiful vase full of perfume, nard. She breaks it while again, sitting at the feet of Jesus, pours it on his feet, and wipes the excess with her hair. 12:3 is the verse that tells us about her favorite place.
Her favorite place wasn’t without criticism. Her sister Martha, who I think was a great lady of service, didn’t have the depth of understanding concerning priorities that Mary did. She tried to get Jesus to rebuke her. Others who had watched her break the expensive perfume bottle with a heart full of hypocrisy claimed it should have been sold and given to the poor. Of course, the accuser in that instance was a devil himself. You know him as Judas Iscariot. People won’t always understand your behavior when Jesus is your priority. The way you speak and spend your time will all be affected while spending time at Mary’s best place. My time is gone for today but let me share a couple of final thoughts. 1) When the Bible is opened in front of us and we are reading slowly and methodically, don’t forget that the Bible is reading us at the same time. It convicts us of our sins and failures. It shows us our great needs spiritually. 2) Don’t miss the best place for a good place. All of the serving that Martha was doing was a good thing. I believe that serving the Lord and working in the church is the best way to spend our time, but not to the neglect of your personal walk with the Lord. If all we do is work in the Lord’s work and everything is external, all we are becoming is a hypocrite. Before you ever dip a spoonful of mashed potatoes, you ought to have dipped your soul into God’s word, that’s the best place. Mary learned this important truth early after becoming a follower of Christ. Her testimony in this matter is a challenge to each of us to do the same.