The Man with the Muckrake by
J.R. Miller from Life's Byways and
Waysides Only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better.
Luke chapter 10 verse 42. Paul prayed that his friends
may be able to discern what is best. Philippians chapter 1 verse
10. We must be always making choices
in this world. We cannot take up everything
that lies in our path, and we ought to choose the best things.
Even among right things there is room for choice, for some
right things are better than others. There are many Christians,
however, who do not habitually choose the best things, but second-rate
things. They labor for the food that
perishes, when they might labor for the food that endures unto
everlasting life. Even in their prayers they ask
for temporal blessings, when they might ask for spiritual
treasures. They are like the man with the
muck-rake in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, who only looks down
and drags his rake among the weeds and worthless rubbish,
while over his head are crowns which he might take into his
hands. They are like Esau, who sold his valuable birthright
for some lentil stew. They toil for the world's vain
things, when they might have been laying up treasures in heaven. We only have one life to live,
and we ought therefore to do the best we possibly can with
it. We pass through this world only
once, and we ought to gather up and take with us the things
that will truly enrich us, things we can keep forever. It is not
worth our while to toil and moil and strive and struggle to do
things that will leave no lasting results when our life is done
while there are things we can do which have eternal significance. Set your hearts on things above,
where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds
on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians chapter 3,
verse 1 and 2. you