What is my purpose?

Recently, there have been a few events in my life that have caused me to look within and ask myself, “Am I doing enough? Have I reached enough people? Am I doing what the Lord has planned for me?” Those questions set my mind racing as I wondered what I could or should be doing. I was feeling inadequate. I don’t have a large organization through which to reach people. I haven’t written any books. I’m not a traveling speaker. What am I doing to make a difference?

My greatest desire is to one day see the face of Jesus and hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Can He say that of me now?

After days, and maybe even a couple of weeks, of my mind spinning, I finally decided to truly seek the Lord. I had been praying, but I’m not convinced I was really listening.

Then it hit me: “There is only one thing worth being concerned about.”

When Jesus visited Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38–42), Martha welcomed Him into her home while Mary sat at His feet. Martha was distracted by what she could do and what she was doing. She busied herself with what she believed was the right thing. Now, Scripture doesn’t say this, but I sometimes wonder if, in her frustration, she was banging pots and pans, making sure to be heard and noticed. She was so frustrated that she finally “tattled” on her sister: “Look at all I’m doing, and she is doing nothing.”

Martha had become distracted by the doing, by what she thought was important, and by how she thought things were supposed to go. Jesus said to her, “You are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Mary sat at the feet of Jesus. She listened with complete focus. With all the fuss in the background, she didn’t budge. It didn’t distract her. It didn’t stress her out. It didn’t cause her to leave the place where she was. She chose to sit at the feet of Jesus before everything and above everything. She let Him dictate the time, dictate the message, and dictate her life. She tuned everything else out, and it all faded away at the sound of His voice.

Mary, who chose to sit at the feet of Jesus, is mentioned throughout Scripture. Her name has endured for generations, and there are countless studies on Martha and Mary. She didn’t write a book of the Bible. She didn’t, as far as we know, speak to thousands. She didn’t do anything the world would consider remarkable. She simply sat at the feet of Jesus.

Later, she fell at His feet in grief (John 11:32). Still later, she worshiped Him by pouring out her most precious possession (John 12:1–3), again at the feet of Jesus. Time and time again, she chose the one thing worth being concerned about.

What is my purpose? What is your purpose?

I know this: first, sit at the feet of Jesus. Above all else, sit at the feet of Jesus. Let every distraction and concern drift away at the sound of His voice, and choose the only thing worth being concerned about.