Mary and Martha

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said.

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!'

'Martha, Martha,' the Lord answered, 'you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.'

Martha wasn't doing anything wrong—hospitality was important, and she was honoring Jesus by serving Him. But she was 'distracted' and 'worried'—her serving had become anxious busyness rather than joyful devotion.

Mary, meanwhile, had taken the posture of a disciple—sitting at the teacher's feet. In that culture, this was remarkable; women were rarely taught by rabbis. Yet Jesus welcomed her and defended her choice.

The 'one thing needed' was not abandoning all work but maintaining right priorities. We can serve Jesus with anxious hearts or with hearts rooted in His presence. Mary chose the better part: first sit at His feet, then serve from overflow.