The church was about to engage in earnest labour, and desired her Lord's company in it. She doesn't say, "I'll go," but "let's go." It's blessed working when Jesus is at our side! It's the business of God's people to be trimmers of God's vines. Like our first parents, we're put into the garden of the Lord for usefulness; let's therefore go forth into the field.

Observe that the church, when she is in her right mind, in all her many labours desires to enjoy communion with Christ. Some imagine that they can't serve Christ actively, and yet have fellowship with him: they're mistaken. Doubtless it's very easy to fritter away our inward life in outward exercises, and come to complain with the spouse, "They made me keeper of the vineyards; but mine own vineyard have I not kept;" but there's no reason why this should be the case except our own folly and neglect. Certain is it that a professor may do nothing, and yet grow quite as lifeless in spiritual things as those who are most busy.

Mary wasn't praised for sitting still; but for her sitting at Jesus' feet. Even so, Christians aren't to be praised for neglecting duties under the pretence of having secret fellowship with Jesus: it isn't sitting, but sitting at Jesus' feet which is commendable. Don't think that activity is in itself an evil: it's a great blessing, and a spiritual practices to us. Paul called it a grace given to him to be allowed to preach; and every form of Christian service may become a personal blessing to those engaged in it. Those who have most fellowship with Christ aren't recluses or hermits, who have much time to spare, but indefatigable labourers who are toiling for Jesus, and who, in their toil, have him side by side with them, so that they're workers together with God. Let's remember then, in anything we've to do for Jesus, that we can do it, and should do it in close communion with him.