“As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[f] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10.38-41
I could never be only a Mary—to sit and listen, to be still and physically inactive—would be so hard for me. Now, I doubt that Mary did this all the time, but at this moment with Jesus, this was her posture. Jesus was in the house. Martha was running around serving, while Mary was sitting and receiving.
So which is better? The men needed food. They were hungry. The house needed to be prepared for the guests—and there were probably many, because Jesus always drew a crowd.
Yet when Martha saw Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus while she herself was working, she spoke up: “Lord, don’t You care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
I find this bold and beautiful. Jesus was approachable, and Martha knew Him well enough to speak so frankly and directly. And Jesus wasn’t offended, but He did not agree with Martha. He said, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
In truth, things did need to get accomplished around the house, and that was not unimportant. However, something far more important had presented itself—Jesus was in the house. Martha was about to miss what Mary was receiving: an encounter with God in the flesh.
There is much debate about serving God versus sitting with God. I think about my own ministry of doing. I never stop. I put on twenty events per year, dozens of trips, and countless meetings—all in the name of Jesus and for His sake. But what about those in ministry in monasteries, who do not plan events but sit before God day and night, praying, fasting, serving, and listening three times a day? Their work is incredibly important as they spend their time adoring the risen Christ.
No doubt both postures are important, but in this instance, when Jesus was in the house, sitting at His feet mattered most. I sense that I need to do more sitting and less serving. Not that serving is bad, but if I only serve, I miss out on the very One I am serving. I can get out of balance—spending time for Jesus without spending time with Jesus.
How about you? Have you found this balance? Are you serving without sitting? Let’s practice both today, knowing that Christ will be with us all and in us all.
“O Lord God, You are good and loving. Your grace abounds. Your way is higher. I sometimes think I am irreplaceable, but Your gospel has been going strong for thousands of years. I am but a torchbearer, passing it to the next generation. Come now, Holy Spirit, fill me with Your power and love. Help me love You more, Jesus. Help me sit at Your feet and so discover Your love, peace, and power. For You are good, and Your love endures forever.” Amen.