The gospel writer, Luke, records an occasion when Jesus “entered into a certain village and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me” (Luke 10:38-40). Stated briefly, Martha was busy serving and Mary sat at Jesus’ feet listening to him speak. We are not told in the text what kind of serving occupied Martha. It was likely something to do with preparing the meal for their guest.
It is probable that Mary served as well but “left [Martha] to serve alone” in order that she “also” (in addition to serving) might sit at Jesus’ feet to hear his teaching. In any case, Martha served, but Mary sat. Martha soon became “cumbered about much serving.” Literally, her service became a distraction to her, and she became anxious.
She concludes that if Mary would help her then order would be restored, and things would get done. So she appeals to the Lord to speak to Mary. However, our Lord sees things very differently. “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
Martha’s busyness had kept her from that one thing that is needful, Jesus himself. Mary had chosen well. She sat at his feet in loving devotion desiring to learn of him. There are many Marthas in today’s church and few Marys. Many people working, but few worshiping. Oh, that the church, God’s people, would return to that one thing that is needful.
The Psalmist knew the value of that one thing for he testified “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire at his temple” (Psalm 27:4). To “dwell in the house of the LORD” spoke of his desire for sustained, uninterrupted communion with the Lord. God made us for this very purpose, to fellowship with him. We forego beholding his beauty when we fail to apprehend and appreciate his attributes. The beauty of the Lord is found in all that he is – holy, loving, wise, good, omniscient, and infinitely more. As we see him for who and what he is, we find that our perceived (and real) needs simply vanish. Finally, to inquire at his temple is to seek his will in all things and to submit ourselves to his ways over our own. Without doubt Mary, like this Psalmist, understood that this one thing is needful.
Martha was not wrong for serving, but for serving without worship. Christ pointed her to this one thing that her sister had grasped. Christianity is not being busy doing good things. It is a relationship with Jesus Christ characterized by loving worship for “him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood” (Revelation 1:5).
Each of us should ask ourselves, “Am I sitting and serving or am I just serving? Am I missing that one thing?
From the Chaplain 