Text: Luke 10:38–42
The Taj Mahal, an iconic mausoleum in Agra, India, was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died during childbirth. There’s an anecdote—perhaps more legend than fact—that while the emperor was inspecting the slow progress of construction, he encountered a box blocking his path and impatiently demanded it be moved. He was then told, “That is the coffin of your wife.” Confronted by this reality, Shah Jahan was overwhelmed with grief and wept. In his devotion to the project, he had momentarily forgotten its true purpose.
It is usual that many times we get caught up in the to-do list, in serving others, in meeting expectations—and somewhere in the middle of it all, we forget why we are doing what we do, and our souls grow tired. Our joy slips away. And what began as a joyful service turns into stress. That’s where we find Martha in our passage today. Her narrative extends beyond serving merely as an illustration of busyness. Mary on the other hand is a lesson about wisdom specifically, the transformative wisdom that comes from the Word of God.
Let’s once again walk through this well-known story and let us remember why Jesus said, “only one thing is necessary” and why “sitting at His feet” to receive His Word is the wisest thing we can ever do.
To begin with this story is about two Sisters and two Attitudes (vv. 38–39)
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.”
Let us notice that it was Martha who welcomes Jesus into her home. This was an act of hospitality and respect, and Martha did what many of us would have done, she got to work, preparing everything her guest would need. I imagine Martha preparing food for at least 13 men, getting the place ready. Offering water and trying to make them feel welcome. She did what was expected.
But then Luke shifts the camara to the other sister, Mary. While Martha is running all over the house, Mary is seated, but not just seated doing nothing, she is at the feet of Jesus, listening to every Word he is sharing.
In a world where “time is money” and idleness is often frowned upon, the image of someone simply sitting can strike us as wasteful or unproductive. Yet in the first-century Jewish context, to “sit at the feet” of a rabbi was the posture of a devoted disciple—someone eager to learn and to be shaped by wisdom. Here’s where we draw our first lesson, and it comes from Mary, the sister who appears to be doing “nothing.” Her choice reveals that true wisdom begins not with action, but with attentive listening.
The society we live in constantly is telling us, “Get busy! Be productive! Earn your worth!” and then the Gospel with the counterculture message says, “Come, leave everything and sit at Jesus’s feet, take time to learn.”
Godly and transformative wisdom, sisters and brothers starts when we take time from our busy day to hear the voice of the One who called us.
The second lesson we can learn comes from Martha: She teaches us that even good intentions can distract us from God’s purpose.
“But Martha was distracted with much serving.”
Let’s be clear, Martha is not doing anything wrong. She is not wasting her time; She is serving Jesus and the disciples. But notice what Luke wrote, she was not serving…she is distracted. The Greek word for distracted literally means “to be pulled away” or “dragged around.” Martha’s attention is fractured. Her soul is being pulled in every direction. And then from her state of distractedness she says something many of us would or had said: “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” In our vocabulary, Mary said something like, “Lord, is me and only me.”
Even two thousand years after the event, Martha’s frustration remains palpable. She was exhausted. Her service was a burden rather than joy.
This can happen to any of us when we neglect to seat at Jesus’ feet and listen. When we are distracted by our work for God and others, our work becomes disconnected from our relationship with God. And when that happens, we begin to question whether Jesus even sees or cares. The problem Martha had was not that Jesus did not care, the problem was that Martha had allowed distraction and busyness to replace her devotion.
The third lesson comes from Jesus: “But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”
Jesus did not scold Martha for being busy. He spoke to her by name twice, “Martha, Martha” seems to me that Luke is suggesting, Jesus called her with tenderness and love. What Jesus did was to bring out what was going on beneath the surface which was anxiety and trouble. And then He says something that cuts through all the noise: “One thing is necessary.” What is this thing that is necessary? to sit at His feet, to listen to His Word, to receive His wisdom.
Mary chose the good portion, the one thing that cannot be taken away. She knew the house would soon be messy again. The meal will be forgotten. But the wisdom of God’s Word shapes the soul for eternity. Later in his letter to Romans chapter 10 Paul said: faith comes from hearing the message…the message of the Word of God. Mary has a message for us who live in a culture obsessed with achievement, Mary reminds us that our identity is rooted not in what we produce, but in whom we have by our side.
Mary shows us than doing for Jesus is important, however being with Jesus is more important. When we do for Jesus, we give, when we are with Jesus, we receive; we fill our hearts until overflow; we prepare ourselves to continue giving. Moreover, expending time with Jesus brings freedom. Freedom from the pressure to prove ourselves, and from the anxiety that comes with always feeling like we’re not doing enough.
When we sit at Jesus’ feet, we become more centered, more at peace, and more in tune with the heart of God.
My sisters and brothers, the greatest danger to your spiritual life is distraction. The greatest danger is to do what Martha did, try to serve Jesus without ever sitting with Him. Remember, the one thing necessary is not our performance, it is not our productivity, it is not our perfect schedule. The one thing necessary is to sit at the feet of Jesus and receive His Word.
Let the wisdom of Christ transform our heart before we try to change the world. Let the wisdom of God fill our hearts and minds before we try to share with others.
This week, let us make space for the one thing that matters most.
Let us separate time to open the Scriptures read and meditate in it. Let us allocate
personal time at God’s presence. Let us sit, listen and receive.
Because when we sit with Jesus, we will find what Martha was missing: Not just a task to do… but a Savior to love. Let as the hymn says, “take time to be holy.”
Blessing: Now may the Lord who invites us to sit at His feet,
Grant you the wisdom that comes not from striving, but from abiding.
May His Word dwell in you richly shaping your heart, calming your spirit,
And renewing your mind with peace.
As you go, may you walk not in anxious hurry,
But in the quiet confidence of those who have heard the voice of Jesus.
Choose the better portion this week—
And may it never be taken away from you.
