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T H E K I N G ’ S B U S I N E S S necessary” ? Or, as He had said in v. 7 of this same chapter ‘ never forget th e individual relation ship of th e believer to the Lord. Here are two believers, two follow ers, two friends, both loving and loyal, and th e ir ' a ttitu d e tow ards th e Lord is representative of two types of Christians. W hat was M artha’s fau lt or failure? She lacked poise in her service. She would work her hands off in service, but she would worry as she worked (Matt. 6:34) “T a k e th e r e fo r e n o th o u g h t f o r th e m o rro w ; fo r th e m o rro w sh a ll ta k e th o u g h t fo r th e th in g s o f its e lf. S u fficien t u n to th e d a y is th e ev il th e re o f.” M artha’s h ea rt was all right, b u t her head was heated. The dinner m eant more to her th an the Diner? the meal more th an th e Master. She was cum bered w ith care. There were two phases in M artha’s difficulty. One was inw ard. She was “ carerful” , o r “ full of care” , of anxiety. The other was outward. She was ‘‘troubled.” Tilings were not going right. Mary was having a good tim e and she was doing all the work. Can you not see her bustling in from the kitchen and coming abruptly to the 1 Lord w ith her complaint: “Are you con tented to let Mary sit th ere doing no th ing, while I have all th e work to do?” How perfectly n atu ra l is th e scene! W hat a personal friend Jesus must have been! This is a tru e story and its teaching is very timely. M artha’s criti cism was a criticism of th e Lord. She though t He was partly to blame; th a t He should have been though tfu l enough to have advised Mary to help her. But “Martha, M artha,” He said, (as He §aid t6 Peter, “ Simon, Simon, Satan hath desired to have you” ; and to Saul, “Saul, Saul, it is hard for thee to kick against th e goads.” ) “Martha, M artha,” (it is a tone of loving, pitiful reproof) “ one th ing is needful” .. W h at did He mean? One dish for dinner? Or, “ only a few things are We can readily believe th a t Mary had risen early th a t morning and had her work all done, and now, in holy com munion a t His feet, w ith surrendered will, was acquiring th a t spiritual in tu ition which would enable her to sense the coming crucifixion of her Lord and to anoint b is feet beforehand (John 12:3, 7) SOME INTERESTING PLANS FOR 1923 WILL
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