Luke 10 introduces us to two sisters, Martha and Mary.
…Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (10:38-42)
It’s Monday. The beginning of a hectic workweek for most of us. We’ll breathe the air of a noisy, interrupting, high-octane culture whose heroes are the highly-productive. We’ll be reminded, challenged, and tempted throughout the week to regard the “valuable” as the most active. Want to be appreciated and treated as indispensable? You have to be constantly connected. The greater your performance, the greater your worth. The more plugged-in you are, the more important you must be. The significant are busy. Always busy. Never caught up. Never slowing down. Always going. Leaning into, keeping up with, and perpetually contributing to the never-ending buzz of life in the 21st century.
Without a doubt, disciples of Jesus should be “zealous for good works” (Tit 2:14), but I need to remember and reflect on these two sisters throughout the week. My hunch is you do too.
Martha “welcomed.” Wonderful. Martha was willing to apply herself to “much serving.” Excellent. But Martha also got “distracted.”
Mary on the other hand? Mary sat. Many would describe that as lazy, but Mary wasn’t zoning out with a TV or a smartphone. Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to his teaching.
There’s a time to diligently apply ourselves and get stuff done, no question. But could it be that many of us will be “anxious and troubled about many things” this week because we’re neglecting “the one thing” that’s really “necessary”? If the busyness and attention and connectedness and productivity comes at the expense of a deep, rich, personal relationship with the Author of life, what have I really gained? What have I missed out on? A year from now, a hundred years from today, ten thousand years from this moment, how “valuable” will those things that seemed so pressing and non-negotiable… how “important” will any of it really be?
Here’s the point I want to remember and intend to reflect on throughout the week. Mary made a choice. The “good portion” is always a choice. The choice to slow down, unplug, and feed my heart with the bread of life. The choice to shut the door, quiet my mind, humble my heart, and lift my spirit in prayer to the Father who sees in secret. The choice to log off, tune out the temporary, and drink deeply from the living water of worship. This portion–the best portion–“will not be taken away” from the disciple of Jesus.
Martha was busy, distracted, anxious and troubled about many things. In our automated age of smartphones, HD screens, infinite scrolls, incessant noise, never-ending notifications, and endless distractions, I can relate. But Luke 10 gave a nudge I needed from the start of this week. The better choice remains. Mary made the choice. To slow down. To prioritize. To sit. To give undivided attention. To absorb. To meditate. To treasure.
Devotion to the one necessary thing continues to be a choice.
In an anxious world that is troubled about many things, may we choose wisely this week.