LET us look a little into the history of this remarkable woman. What was it she had that filled the house? No doubt it prefigured the Holy Ghost-but what was it? It was something that came from herself-it was reckoned to her, and she filled the house with it. You, if you please, may take " the house " as the house of God. The place where she was was filled with the odor. She occupied the whole space, she occupied the whole scene, and it was filled with the perfume.
But it was not appreciated by any save the Lord Jesus alone-He alone appreciated it.
How many of us are satisfied to have the approval of Christ only! We like to take a little credit to ourselves; and for others, even our brethren, to hold us in their approbation, but she was satisfied with the appreciation of the Lord alone. Some of the circle liked new fashions, but she kept the good old fashion of sitting at the feet of Jesus, and there received His words, and the result was, she filled the house with odor. From the sitting at the feet of Jesus came the filling of the house, that is how it came about, and the Lord Jesus appreciated it. Now, which will you have, the appreciation of Christ, or of others, even the brethren? You cannot expect to have both. It is certain that if you will have the one you must do without the other!
It will not do for us to throw stones at Martha. Which of us can come up to Martha? But why was she troubled? Because she had, as it were, too many things in hand, and, being occupied with them, they worried her, though they were good things in themselves, such as service, &c. It is not so with purely spiritual and divine things, you cannot have too much of them, nor be too much occupied with them; but it is a difficulty with natural things, or what is merely service.
Ask the physicians of the present day, they will all tell you the same thing; that what they have to grapple especially with are the effects of worry. Martha was troubled; but there was one thing about her that few of us can boast of-she was "at home" with Jesus. She could go to Him and tell Him everything. Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus and drinking in His words was occupied with what came from Himself, and was satisfied with His appreciation and approbation. It is a wonderful thing, and an instructive study for the soul-she "filled" the-"house" with the "odor of the ointment." W. F. B.