The Better Thing.
Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)
“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 called 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.’”
I still remember the first time I really heard this story and experienced such confusion: Why was Martha “wrong”?
Growing up, I had the privilege to watch my mother and grandmother throw countless parties. The thoughtfulness and grace with which they prepared our home, the meals, and the decor made it clear that hosting was (and still is) a strength of theirs. As I would sit by and watch them diligently prepare, they would joyfully invite me to share in their work, oftentimes pairing each invitation with a lesson (classic move, mom). One of the more prominent lessons I would learn would be the importance of lending a hand.
Like Martha, I was taught from an early age that helping was the right thing to do—especially in a setting like this! So, naturally, my heart always went out to Martha. The scene painted itself in my head—Martha, overwhelmed and frantic, embarrassed even, hands covered in flour as panic set in seeing Mary unbothered, sharing in laughter with others she too longed to laugh with.
There’s much of this story left unrecorded. Maybe the invitation was last-minute, and Martha felt rushed. Maybe she was determined to make a good impression on the Messiah, the man whose miracles and teachings had stirred so much hope. I picture her heart overwhelmed with both excitement and anxiety as she prepared the meal, set the table, and cleaned every corner. Her intentions were most likely well-meaning, but the story shifts when we see Martha release an outburst of emotion – frustration, certainly. Over the years the scene would continue to paint itself to me, each time more vivid than the last as I put myself in her shoes; the panic rising in my own chest: I have so much left to do, so much left to accomplish.
Having spent many years in my youth indifferent to the Lord—fully experiencing the heartbreak and emptiness that came with it—I now live with a passionate desire to serve Him well, especially when considering how faithful He was to me in that season of rebellion. The gratitude I feel is tear-jerking at times. I never want to go back to that old way of life, and so, understandably, it matters deeply to me to pour myself into the work He calls me to.
Martha’s preparations weren’t necessarily sinful—far from it. They were an expression of her love and care for Jesus. But did you catch what Jesus said to her when she became distracted from the work? “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.” Martha had become obsessively fixated on hosting Jesus well that she failed to recognize He was the one hosting her. While Martha was putting forth her best, Jesus acknowledged there was something better: Him.
Martha’s focus on the tasks distracted her from the presence of who she was serving. Sometimes, like Martha, I am so driven by “doing my best” that I lose sight of His better. My desire to do well for the Lord can become a distraction from His presence. This tension has been a recurring struggle for me as of late, especially creatively and in my work as a teacher. I constantly ask myself: Am I doing enough? Am I doing too much? The fear of failing Him can drive me to push harder, but it also clouds my perspective.
I often wonder how Jesus responded after Martha’s outburst. Had it been me, I know I would have been beside myself in tears, worried I had ruined the whole evening. But I like to imagine Jesus walking over to her (to me), taking whatever was in her hands and setting it aside, leading her to sit beside Him – His voice calm and His hands kind, reminding her that her worth wasn’t tied to what she could do for Him but found in simply being with Him.
That same invitation extends to us. Sometimes, we hide our deeper insecurities—fears of losing love, purpose, or value—under the guise of “doing our best.” But Jesus gently calls us to let go of our striving and to choose what is better.
The Old Covenant reminds us that our best efforts, while appreciated, are insufficient. Yet the New Covenant invites us to step into a better way—to rest in the sufficiency of Jesus. If you’re feeling distracted, overwhelmed, or like your efforts are not enough, I pray the Lord will help you still your hands, humble your expectations, and realign your perspective.
In place of New Year’s resolutions, I pick a word for each year that I feel God is laying on my heart regarding the months ahead (usually a lesson that needs learning or a skill that needs building). My word for this year is relinquish – not to be misunderstood as “give up” but rather “hand over.” I’ll end with one of my favorite quotes I’ve held onto since my early 20s, in hopes you too will find where you may need to “hand over” your best in exchange for something better:
“I have learned to hold all things loosely, so God will not have to pry them out of my hands.” —Corrie ten Boom
Or maybe Martha was a big ole’ whiner – also possible but a completely different devotional, alas.
