Worshipping and Serving Christ

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.  But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things.  But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” – Luke 10:38-42

Are there times when we put ministry or service before Jesus? Are we so busy with life and many things that we neglect spending time with Him? When Jesus visited their home, Martha welcomed Him and then got busy serving Him. Mary, her sister sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His Word.

Martha was distracted with serving. She must have felt stressed and overwhelmed to the point where she went to Jesus and said to Him, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” She was frustrated with both Mary and Jesus. She was frustrated that Mary wasn’t sitting there, listening to Jesus instead of helping her and with Jesus for not caring that she was doing everything alone. She urged him to tell Mary to help her.

Why was Martha so caught up in serving that she didn’t take the time to sit and listen to Jesus like Mary did? Should Mary have helped Martha and then, both of them could sit and listen to Jesus afterward? What did Jesus say to Martha when she complained about Mary not helping her and Him for not encouraging her to? What did He say to Mary?

Jesus didn’t address Mary. He addressed only Martha and He said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” There was a problem but it had nothing to do with Mary. Martha was distracted by many things and as a result, she was distracted from Jesus. Nothing was wrong with her serving. She had guests and wanted to feed them but, those who have guests, sit down and spend time with those guests too. Martha had an opportunity to spend time with Jesus, fellowshipping with Him and listening to Him but she became distracted and then criticized Mary and Jesus.

Mary had a desire to hear Jesus so she sat at His feet. There is a time for everything–a time for serving and a time for sitting at Jesus’ feet. Serving Jesus should never cause us to neglect spending time with Jesus. Mary chose to focus on Jesus. She desired to sit and listen to His Word. There are times when we need to sit at Jesus’ feet and hear Him. Jesus said He came to serve and not to be served but He always found time for His Father. Likewise, we must always find time for Jesus. Jesus must be placed above everything and everyone else. We should be able to serve Jesus and also find (make) the time to sit at His feet.

 “The one thing needful evidently is that which Mary chose — that good part which should not be taken away from her. Very clearly this was to sit at Jesus’ feet, and hear his word.” (C. H. Spurgeon)

Source: Blue Letter Bible