Mary and Martha: Prioritizing What Matters Most – Service and Seeking God’s Presence

For Scriptural Context Read Luke 10 

Luke 10.38-42

³⁸ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word. ⁴⁰ 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. ⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: ⁴² But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

In the town of Bethany, located just two miles from Jerusalem, lived three siblings: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. Mary appears three times in the New Testament — Luke 10:38-42, John 11, and John 12:1-8. Martha, likely the eldest sister, was the host when Jesus and His disciples visited their home in Bethany, a place where they often stopped during their travels.

Martha was the active, task-oriented one. With Jesus and His disciples in her home, she took on the role of the perfect hostess, focused on preparing the best meal and making sure everything was in order. However, Martha missed the deeper purpose of that visit. I can almost picture her scurrying around her home, adjusting this cushion, dusting that corner, and anxiously overseeing the food preparation. But what she failed to understand was that it wasn’t just about having a well-organized gathering; it was a moment for Jesus to be present with those He loved, to teach and to share His heart before His impending death on the cross. It’s important for me to say that I don’t believe that Mary had more faith than Martha or that Mary was a “better Christian”, but rather there was a misplacement of priorities that needed to adjusted. While Martha busied herself with work, her sister Mary understood the importance of sitting at Jesus’ feet and absorbing His teaching, prioritizing spiritual growth over the duties of hosting.

Martha was caught up in action—she had to do everything, while Mary chose to simply be present. There is a saying that goes, “Martha is preparing presents for Jesus, while Mary is in the presence of Jesus.”

Mary didn’t let the pressures of cleaning, cooking, or entertaining keep her from the opportunity for spiritual enrichment. She didn’t know exactly what she would learn, but she knew that being where Jesus was teaching was the most important thing. In the words of Jesus, Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her Luke 10:42. While Martha’s tasks were important, she became so consumed with them that she missed the one thing she needed most: sitting at the feet of Jesus and learning from Him. In that moment, she was more focused on entertaining Jesus than hearing from Him, missing a rare opportunity to be in His presence. 

Martha would have many more opportunities to serve and entertain in the future, but her time with Jesus would soon be cut short, as He would soon face His death and ascension to Heaven. In this moment, her priorities were misaligned. I cannot help but wonder if in the days that followed, the days after His crucifixion, Martha felt the deepest regret over her actions and her missed opportunity to share precious time with her Savior. I wonder if we have our own regret of missed opportunities of fellowship with our Savior. 

Here are some ways we can be more like Mary and less like Martha:

• Spend time daily in prayer and in the Bible.
• Use the gifts God has given you intentionally to serve Him. Don’t allow your gifts to become a shield or a distraction that causes you to miss opportunities to glorify Him.
• Strive to prioritize our spiritual growth over busyness and our to-do lists.
• Not allowing ourselves to become so overwhelmed with tasks that we neglect meaningful time with others.
• Not allowing ourselves to become engrossed in social media or other things which would distract and keep us our time with God and His people.
• Be present and truly listen to others, focusing on their words rather than planning what we will say next or thinking on what we need to do later.
• Opening our homes and hearts to others, practicing genuine hospitality and make people feel special by being present rather than hiding out or burying ourselves in our phones.

Let’s look to the examples of Mary and Martha as evidence that God is not impressed by outward perfection or elaborate displays; He cares more about the condition of our hearts and minds. So, ask yourself: Are you more like Mary, seeking His presence, or like Martha, caught up in the busyness of life?

Mary demonstrated her love for God by listening attentively to His words and reflecting on them. She was so captivated by Jesus that she allowed everything else to fade into the background. In contrast, Martha expressed her love through service—busy preparing and caring for Jesus and His disciples. While her hospitality and sense of responsibility were admirable, she became distracted and even resentful. Both acts of love are valuable, but the key is knowing when to prioritize what truly matters: seeking God’s presence above all else. Let us strive to have Martha’s heart of service, but Mary’s yearning to be at the feet of Jesus.