Martha, Mary, and the Good Portion
Read Luke 10:38-42

 “Good” Things in the Way

Martha was doing good things. She was even serving Jesus – preparing a meal for him and the others. But Luke says that in her serving she was actually distracted; she was over-busy and diverted from something more important, something better.

Jesus responds to her request about Mary with a loving rebuke: “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but only one thing is necessary.” She was missing the one thing necessary. This was evident in both her anxiousness and in her misplaced frustration and demanding attitude regarding her sister.

The one thing necessary was devotion to Jesus: to His heart, His words, and His ways. The rest (e.g., the meal, serving) would be taken care of at the right time. But Martha was too caught in her own perspective and agenda to see this.

Jesus’ gentle rebuke of Martha reveals not anger but deep compassion and affection – and a tender desire to help Martha see that she has lost her way in this moment.

• How can you relate to Martha? Where do you find yourself over-busy with even good things and yet overwhelmed or empty in ways you suspect are not reflective of what Christ wants for you? Consider especially places where anxiety and frustration seem more commonplace.

 Loyalty to Jesus

Mary was in the right place not only because she was sitting with Jesus, but because her heart was loyal to Jesus. It wasn’t just what she was doing – it was her inner attitude. She wanted Jesus more than other things. Even more than doing the “dutiful” things; she loved and wanted time with Him!

Her posture was the right posture to have whether she was sitting at His feet or at work in the kitchen. If Jesus had asked Mary to help Martha with dinner at that moment, she surely would have. But not because Martha was demanding it, but because Mary loved Jesus and wanted to obey Him in whatever He asked of her.

Jesus wants to be first in our hearts. Matthew 10:27-39 tells us this is basic to our lives as His disciples. He calls us to embrace Him as the most important person in our lives and desires that love for Him and trust in Him would be the greatest motive behind our service to and love for others.

Putting Jesus first isn’t surrendering to tyranny or erasing your identity. Jesus wants better for you than even you do. He is a Lord who is “gentle and humble of heart.” He promises rest for our souls because His “yoke is easy” and His “burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

In fact, when loyalty to Jesus becomes the first motive behind how we love and serve others, He orders our relationships rightly. Like Mary, we can more joyously say “yes” to others with a healthy heart of love and we can more prudently say “no” with wisdom and courage.

• How have you found Jesus bringing more health and joy and peace into your life when you’ve put Him first? Where have you seen the opposite – when you’ve put Jesus in the back seat to other people and pursuits?

 Prayer

Jesus knows we will never be perfect in this life in our devotion to Him. But He still calls us to pursue devotion to Him. In His gentleness and tenderness, He promises to help us do this (Hebrews 4:14-16).

Spend some time in prayer asking God to search your heart to discern where relationships or other areas of your life (like jobs, hobbies, or even ministry) might have a greater hold on your heart than devotion to Jesus. This will be obvious in contexts where outright sin is occurring, but it may also be subtler – in places where anger, frustration, or obsessive worry is dominating your heart. Sometimes these situations are more complicated than simply the result of neglecting Jesus (e.g., when you are being abused, experiencing tragedy, or have a mental health challenge) so seek out mature, wise, and loving brothers and sisters in Christ for wisdom if you are unsure.

Relatedly, ask the Lord to help you see if you are not giving Him the attention and time that He deserves – especially time in prayer and reading His word. Scripture indicates that time given to singular and meaningful focus on Him should usually be our daily experience (Matthew 6:11; Luke 9:23; Psalm 5:3; Psalm 1).

Ask Jesus to help you place Him first, not merely because it is your duty (which it is) but because He is worthy, loving, good, kind, wise, gentle, delightful, and trustworthy and because He wants to and knows how to, fill our souls with rest and peace and joy.