At the Home of Martha and Mary

A Sermon on Luke 10:38-42

Jesus teaches us that while serving God is important, sitting at His feet in worship and learning are our priorities.

Picture this: It's Sunday afternoon, and your house is about to be invaded. Not by burglars—by family. Your in-laws, your kids, maybe some friends from church. You've got thirty minutes before they arrive, and suddenly you're running around like a contestant on a game show.

"Honey, can you vacuum the living room? I need to get these dishes done, start the roast, set the table, and—oh no—did I remember to buy dessert?" Sound familiar?

Now imagine that instead of your mother-in-law showing up, it's Jesus Christ himself. The Son of God is coming to your house for dinner. How would you react? Would you spend every second scrubbing floors and preparing the perfect meal? Or would you drop everything just to be with Him?

This isn't a hypothetical question. It happened to two sisters named Martha and Mary, and their different responses reveal a profound truth about what God values most in our relationship with Him. Today, we're going to discover that in our busy, performance-driven world, Jesus is calling us back to what matters most—simply being with Him.

Let me read today's passage from Luke 10:38-42:

"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 named 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.'"

This scene takes place in the village of Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were close friends of Jesus—this wasn't His first visit. In first-century Jewish culture, hospitality wasn't just a courtesy; it was a sacred act. When guests arrived, especially a respected teacher like Jesus, the host family would spare no expense to show honor and respect.

But here's what makes this story remarkable: Mary broke social convention. In that culture, women typically stayed in the kitchen during such visits. Yet Mary positioned herself as a disciple, sitting at Jesus' feet—the traditional posture of a student learning from a rabbi. This was revolutionary.

Jesus values our devotion to Him above our service for Him.

The question isn't whether serving God matters—it absolutely does. The question is: What comes first? And Jesus' response to Martha's frustration reveals a priority that can transform how we approach our faith, our relationships, and our entire lives.

Point 1: What Does This Mean? - The Heart Behind the Hustle

Martha wasn't doing anything wrong. She was serving Jesus, showing hospitality, working hard. In fact, if we met Martha today, we'd probably think she was amazing. She's the person who organizes the church potluck, volunteers for VBS, and always has her house ready for unexpected guests.

But notice the language Luke uses: Martha was "distracted by all the preparations." The Greek word here is "perispao"—it means to be pulled away, to be over-occupied. Martha's service had become a distraction from the very person she was trying to serve.

Think about it like this: Imagine you're so busy planning the perfect anniversary dinner for your spouse that you completely ignore them when they come home. You're cooking their favorite meal, setting the table with candles, arranging flowers—all wonderful gestures of love. But when they walk in and want to talk about their day, you say, "Not now! Can't you see I'm doing this for you?"

That's what happened to Martha. Her service became more important than her Savior.

Mary, on the other hand, understood something profound: Jesus didn't come to her house primarily to be served—He came to be with them. She recognized that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. She could cook tomorrow, clean later, but Jesus was here now.

The text says Mary "sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said." She wasn't being lazy or irresponsible. She was being intentional about what mattered most in that moment.

Point 2: Why Does This Matter? - The Modern Martha Syndrome

We live in a Martha world. Our culture rewards people for being busy, celebrating productivity, and measures worth by output. We've turned Christianity into a performance rather than a relationship.

I see this everywhere. People burn out from church activities. Families implode because parents are too busy serving God to spend time with their children. Marriages suffer because couples are so involved in ministry that they never actually talk to each other anymore.

Last month, I counseled a woman who was in leadership at three different ministries, taught Sunday school, organized the church food pantry, and coordinated mission trips. She came to me exhausted, frustrated, and feeling distant from God. "Pastor," she said, "I'm doing everything for Jesus, but I feel like I don't even know Him anymore."

Sound familiar? We've confused activity with intimacy. We've mistaken serving God for knowing God.

Jesus' response to Martha is so tender: "Martha, Martha." He says her name twice is the language of gentle correction, not harsh rebuke. He's essentially saying, "I love your heart. I appreciate your service. But you're missing the point."

Here's the hard truth: You can serve God without loving God. You can work for Jesus without walking with Jesus. You can be busy with the Kingdom while being distant from the King.

The Christian life isn't primarily about what we do for God—it's about who we become with God.

Point 3: How Does This Change Everything? - Choosing the Better Part

Jesus tells Martha that Mary "has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." The word "better" here doesn't mean Mary's choice was good and Martha's was bad. It means Mary chose the "necessary" thing—the one thing that gives meaning to everything else.

Picture two people learning to play piano. One person spends hours practicing scales, studying music theory, and polishing their technique, but never actually listens to beautiful music. The other person falls in love with a beautiful song and then learns the techniques needed to play it. Both might become skilled, but only one understands why music matters.

Mary chose to fall in love with Jesus first. Everything else would flow from that. 

When we prioritize being with Jesus, everything changes:

Our service is becoming sustainable. Instead of serving from emptiness, we serve from overflow. Instead of ministry becoming a burden, it becomes a joy.

Our relationships deepen. When we're secure in God's love, we don't need constant affirmation from others. We can love freely because we are loved completely.

Our purpose becomes clear. When we know Jesus intimately, we naturally want to serve Him effectively. But the service flows from the relationship, not the other way around.

I think about my friend Sarah, who used to be the ultimate church volunteer. She was at every event, led multiple Bible studies, and rarely said no to any request. But she was exhausted and resentful. Then she made a radical decision: she stepped back from everything except one ministry and committed to spending thirty minutes each morning just sitting with Jesus—no agenda, no request list, just being present with Him.

Six months later, she was a different person. More peaceful, more joyful, more effective in the one ministry she kept. She told me, "I finally understand the difference between being busy for God and being blessed by God."

So how do we choose the better part? How do we become more like Mary and less like Martha? Here are three practical steps:

First, Create Sacred Space. Just like Mary positioned herself at Jesus' feet, we need to intentionally create time and space to be with God. This isn't about adding another item to your to-do list. Start small—maybe ten minutes each morning with your Bible and a cup of coffee. No phone, no distractions, just you and Jesus.

Second, Evaluate Your Yes. Martha's problem wasn't that she was serving—it's that she was serving frantically. Before you say yes to the next ministry opportunity, ask yourself: "Will this draw me closer to Jesus or distract me from Him?" Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is say no to a good thing so you can say yes to the best thing.

Third, Practice Presence. Mary wasn't just physically present; she was emotionally and spiritually engaged. When you're in church, be fully in church. When you're reading your Bible, put away the phone. When you're praying, pray instead of planning your day.

Here's your challenge for this week: Choose one activity you're currently doing "for God" and ask yourself honestly: "Is this drawing me closer to Him or pulling me away?" If it's pulling you away, dare to step back and refocus.

Let's pray together:

"Jesus, forgive us for the times we've been so busy serving You that we've forgotten to be with You simply. Help us to choose the better part—to sit at Your feet, to listen to Your voice, to find our identity in Your love rather than our activity. Please give us the wisdom to know when to say yes and the courage to say no. We want to serve you from overflow, not emptiness. In Your name, Amen."

Remember our big idea: Jesus values our devotion to Him above our service for Him.

This doesn't mean service doesn't matter—it means service flows best from a heart that's first been captured by Jesus. Mary served too—just look at John 12 where she anoints Jesus' feet with expensive perfume. But her service came from intimacy, not obligation.

As you leave here today, you have a choice. You can rush back into the busyness of life, or you can carry with you Mary's example. You can choose to be so busy doing things for God that you miss God Himself, or you can choose the better part—the one thing that will never be taken away from you.

Your activity level doesn't measure your relationship with Jesus. Your heart's affection measures it. And when your heart is captivated by Him, the service will follow naturally.

May you have the wisdom of Mary to choose what's better, the peace that comes from resting in God's presence, and the joy of serving from a heart that's first been satisfied by Jesus Himself.

Go in peace and serve the Lord. Amen.