I found myself relating to the story of Mary and Martha in a different way recently. It’s a story in the Bible well known, and quickly judged. I say that because, between the two women, we all claim we would have been Mary. We all assume we would have eagerly sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His every word. Of course I would also want to believe that about myself, that I would have been a Mary, praised by Jesus himself for having my priorities in line. Except not long ago, I was Martha.

“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭38‬-‭42‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

One day I found myself completely overwhelmed. I was struggling with my business and decisions that needed to be made. My children were being super needy, and trying to split attention between the both of them was particularly hard that day. My house was a mess and I kept thinking of all the things I needed to get done. I remember saying, internally and out loud, I wish someone would help me.

Being overwhelmed like that almost made me feel invisible. That nobody knew or even cared that I felt this way. (Which is absolutely untrue and a lie of the enemy.) It made me feel a new sympathy for Martha. In her day, I’m sure serving was more of a chore than it is today. There was no grocery store or restaurant to easily get food or prepare a meal. No dishwashers, no fancy cooking equipment or appliances to make things easier or convenient. It probably did feel more like hard labor to her. Maybe she felt she had no other choice, like the phrase we have so often heard here in the south, ‘If I don’t do it, it won’t get done.”

So in her frustration she cries out to Jesus, ‘tell her to help me!’ I had also prayed that day and many before, God please help me. I remembered Jesus’ response to Martha, “you are worried and troubled about many things, but one thing is needed.” In saying that, Jesus affirms that He knows her troubles. He knows what is bothering her, but gently He reminds her that only one thing is needed. To sit at His feet and listen to His word.

I also realized in my complaining how much I used the word need. My house had a list of things that needed to be done. My business had things that needed to be attended to. My children were needy and it demanded most of my attention. Yet Jesus says only one thing is truly needed, and it is He.

It’s not that anything else isn’t important. Because Jesus knows my worries just as he did Martha’s. He knows I need to change my babies diaper, give him a bottle, give him a bath. He knows I have to take my son to his baseball practice and make him lunch and do his laundry. He knows I need to make dinner for my family, and keep my house clean. It is very tempting and distracting to realize everything that must be done all the time, every day. It’s easy to get in a Martha mindset, but on the days where the to do list is high, I must make sitting at his feet even higher. This quote comes to mind as I say this:

“If we would be strong for service in the strength that prevents distraction and unrest, we must know what it is to find time amid all the duties of life to sit at His feet as disciples.” (Morgan)

Perhaps Jesus also corrected Martha in this moment because He knew His time with them on earth was coming to an end. Imagine Jesus teaching in your home, but you never slowed down to listen. Then when He is gone, you regret it, wishing you could have learned from Him. Though Jesus isn’t present in His physical body with us, the gift of time with Him is still available to us. There will be a day when Jesus returns, that many will regret not knowing Him nor listening to Him while they had the chance.

God cares when you need help. He hears when you pray, and He knows your every need. He’s not saying to neglect everything else in your life, but to simply seek first His kingdom.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭33‬ ‭NKJV‬‬