The One Thing Needful

Luke 10:38-42 (July 20, 2025)

Let's just look around for a moment. I see so much energy, enthusiastic people, and busy lives. How many of you feel like you're always trying to manage a lot of things at once? Like school, homework, church activities, jobs, friends, and keeping up with everything online. It's a lot, isn't it? Honestly, I feel like I am one of those. Sometimes, it feels like we're on a never-ending ride, creating our own stress and craziness. If you are also one of those who feel like that, then today's Bible story from Luke 10:38-42 will really speak to you. It's about two sisters, Mary and Martha, and when Jesus visited them. 

Martha's Busy World

Picture this: Jesus, who had just been teaching and traveling, arrives at the house of his friends, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. And Martha? She's definitely in charge. Martha was probably a strong, independent woman with her own money, maybe even the head of her family. That's why she herself invited Jesus over. How do I know that? Some ancient authorities add something to verse 38 as follows: "Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him (into her home)" (Luke 10:38).

Moreover, here's something interesting from the Bible: the name "Martha" means "mistress" or "lady." So, when Jesus walks in, it's her house, and she feels completely responsible. 

Now, back then, in the first century, being a good host wasn't just being nice; it was a very important and sacred custom. Welcoming guests, sharing a meal, and inviting them into your family's space was a really big deal. And for women, cooking and getting food ready was a traditional and expected job. If you weren't a good hostess, it meant you were disrespecting your guest. Can you imagine how much pressure that was? 

So, Martha, being true to her role, immediately gets busy with a lot of serving. And then she was "distracted by her many tasks" and felt weighed down by all the hosting duties. She's trying to do everything perfectly, make sure everyone is comfortable, and make Jesus feel honored. She's serious, means well, and is working incredibly hard. You know that feeling, right? When you're trying to impress someone, or you have a huge project due, and you're just stressed, trying to do a million things and get it all finished? That was Martha.

Mary Sitting at Jesus’ Feet

But then there's Mary. While Martha is busy cooking, Mary does something really different for a Jewish woman at that time. She "sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to what he was saying" (Luke 10:39).

Think about what "sitting at the feet (of someone)" really meant. It wasn't just casually sitting nearby. This was how a student learned from a rabbi. It was like being in a classroom, paying close attention to the teacher. Normally, in those days, women didn't get this kind of direct, formal teaching. They usually learned about their faith from other women or from a distance. So, for Mary to sit right there with the male students, soaking in Jesus’ teaching, was a brave and unexpected choice. And here's the amazing part: Jesus didn't tell her to get up! He actually welcomed her choice and showed that he approved of it.

"Martha, Martha..." – The One Thing Needful

You can probably guess what happens next. Martha, who is tired and feels like no one is helping her, can't take it anymore. She goes right up to Jesus, probably wiping flour from her hands, and says, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her, then, to help me" (Luke 10:4). Martha is angry, and instead of being mad at her sister Mary, she's complaining to Jesus. Even though she happily invited Jesus into her home, now she eventually felt bitter toward Mary and complained to Jesus. Why?

Indeed, her complaint really comes from being truly tired and frustrated. She's doing what she thinks she should be doing, what's expected of her, and she feels like Mary isn't doing her share. She's even trying to get Jesus to agree with her, to control the situation.

But Jesus' answer is really deep. He doesn't sharply scold Martha. Instead, he gently says, "Martha, Martha..." Saying her name twice shows he feels for her, rather than blaming her. He wasn't saying her service was bad, or that being a good host isn't important. The story never says that Martha's work (serving others) is unnecessary and wrong. 

What Jesus was pointing out was that she was distracted, worried, and that she was focusing on "many things" instead of "the one thing needful." He was trying to save her from her own idea that she needed to control everything.

And then what is that "one thing needful" that Jesus speaks to Martha? I can understand it in two ways. First, it's important to remember why you started something in the first place. For example, Martha needed to remember "why she invited Jesus to her home, why Jesus is there, and why she is serving Him. Second, it is about listening to Jesus. But it's not just listening. It's about paying attention to Him, getting close to him, and learning from him. It's about putting our energy into things that last forever instead of just temporary things. Mary had chosen "that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Pitfalls of the "Martha Spirit"

So, what does all of this mean for us today? We all have a bit of Martha inside us, right? Even when we mean well, the "Martha spirit" can lead to some problems:

• Getting Distracted and Anxious: Just like Martha was weighed down and distracted by her many tasks, we can get stuck in trying to do too many things at once. We get worried and bothered by many things. This can make us feel alone, think we're always right, get defensive, and even wonder if God cares about our stress.
• Relying Too Much on Outside Things and Our Own Efforts: Sometimes, we, including myself, focus too much on what looks good on the outside – like impressive achievements, being recognized, or having the right things. We see these as super important, instead of real spiritual depth. This can make us do things without thinking (forgetting the original purpose of our doing), just going through the motions in our faith, ignoring real prayer or quiet time with God, and depending on our own strength instead of the Holy Spirit, the true source of strength.
• Wanting to Stand Out: Martha's complaint suggested she wanted her hard work to be noticed. When we get too caught up in being busy, it can sometimes be about wanting people to recognize us or approve of us. But being busy without also spending time with God can puff us up and actually make it harder for us to connect with God.

"Mary Spirit" for Our Spiritual Journey

So, what's the other way to live? How can we bring the "Mary spirit" into our busy lives? It's all about deep faith, quiet thinking, and spending personal time with Christ. 

And the good things that come from it are huge. Spending time with Christ isn't a waste of time; it actually builds us up and gives us energy to act. This helps us remember "why we are part of what we are doing now." It makes our actions better and helps us do truly unique things. It allows us to do heart-suggested work for Christ that's more than just going through the motions. When we spend time with God, our ideas, our solutions, and even the ways we help others will be more real and make a bigger difference.

Being with the Lord helps us see all those daily stresses, annoying things, and huge to-do lists in a new way. They seem less significant. It helps us be more patient and loving toward others, and it cuts down on those small complaints or negative comments. Imagine not getting overwhelmed so easily, or not reacting with frustration.

Bringing it Home

So, what can we take away from this for our lives right now?

1. Look at Our Own Priorities Again: We live in a fast-paced and distracting world. The story of Martha asks us to think about how being constantly busy hurts us and to reevaluate what is truly essential and prioritize it. Being a good host and serving others are important, but they lose their meaning if they make us worried and take us away from "the most important thing."
2. Be Purposeful and Disciplined: The "Mary spirit" doesn't just appear on its own; it takes effort and self-control. This means setting aside specific time for prayer and reading God's Word. Even if it's just five minutes or ten minutes. A few calm minutes spent with God are better than an hour of being distracted. 

Make spending time with Jesus your ultimate goal/priority. This might mean changing our schedule, waking up a little earlier, or yes, even spending less time on social media or playing video games or watching TV. Let's remember this: Spending time with Jesus is the best.

1. Understand the Basis of All Service: Remember, this idea goes beyond your personal spiritual life and applies to every area where you serve, whether it's in life group discussion, community service, or just being a good friend. The power for real, effective service comes from a strong personal relationship with Jesus and letting Him minister to you. True renewal begins at the Master's feet. This means that serving others and being a follower are most effective and genuine when they come from a deep, steady, and prioritized relationship with Jesus Christ.

Friends, in a world that always wants us to do more, achieve more, and juggle more—Jesus offers a different way. He isn't telling us not to help or serve. He's saying, don't let our service stop us from connecting with the main source of life and strength. He's inviting us, just like Mary, to choose "that good part, which shall not be taken away from [us]."

Let's promise to find that balance. Let's truly believe that our main goal isn't just to be busy for God, but to be with God. Because when we make spending time with Him a priority, when we truly pay attention to Jesus and learn from Him, everything else—our service, our relationships, how we see life's challenges—comes from a place of deep spiritual strength and real love.

We are so blessed to have many amazing Marthas among us. Let's give a big round of applause to all the Marthas in our church, meaning, "We sincerely appreciate your dedication and hard work."

Message Prayer: Dear Lord, help us choose the one thing needful: to be with You. May we make time to sit at Your feet, finding strength and peace in our busy lives. Let everything we do come from a deep, focused connection to You. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.