Choosing What Matters Most

Mary, Martha & the Invitation to Simply Be With Jesus

Have you ever worked so hard preparing for a gathering that by the time everyone arrived, you were already exhausted? I understand Martha. In fact, every Thanksgiving I become Martha.

I honestly don’t even enjoy Thanksgiving dinner all that much anymore because I’m usually the one doing all the cooking. Everyone works, so most of the preparation falls on me. My husband does help once Thanksgiving Day arrives, but by then I’ve already spent days:

• grocery shopping

• planning the meal

• cleaning the house

• cooking

• organizing

And by the time everyone finally sits down to eat, I’m exhausted. Then comes the part that always gets me…The family eats the meal in less than thirty minutes, everyone visits for a little while, and then they all go home. And I’m left standing in a messy kitchen surrounded by dirty dishes and leftovers.

Honestly? Sometimes I just want to throw my hands up and say:  “Next year, can we just order pizza!” Because deep down, what I really want is not a perfect meal. I want time with the people I love.

And that’s exactly why the story of Mary and Martha speaks so deeply to my heart.

Martha Wasn’t Wrong

When we read the story in Gospel of Luke 10, Martha often gets painted as the “bad” sister while Mary becomes the spiritual hero quietly sitting at the feet of Jesus. But I don’t think Martha was a bad person at all.

Martha was serving. She was preparing a meal for Jesus and she was showing hospitality. She was doing what needed to be done. In fact, many of us are probably far more like Martha than we’d like to admit.

We:

• care for people

• work hard

• carry responsibilities

• make sure everything gets done

• keep the household moving

The problem wasn’t Martha’s serving….The problem was her distraction.

Jesus gently told her: “Martha, Martha… you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.” — Luke 10:41–42. Those words hit differently when you’re tired. Because Martha wasn’t simply cooking dinner. She was carrying the weight of expectations.

• Responsibilities

• Pressure

• Comparison

• Stress

And somewhere along the way, she became so focused on serving Jesus that she stopped spending time with Jesus.

Mary Chose What Matters Most

Meanwhile, Mary sat at Jesus’ feet. She listened and she rested in His presence. She chose a relationship over productivity.

And Jesus said: “Mary has chosen what is better…” — Luke 10:42. That statement doesn’t mean serving is unimportant. It simply means presence matters more.

The dishes could wait.
                  The meal doesn’t have to be perfect.
                                            The house doesn’t need to impress anyone.

Jesus simply wanted their hearts. Oh how often we miss this.

We become so busy…:

• working for God

• serving others

• taking care of responsibilities

• trying to keep everyone happy

…that we neglect the very thing our souls need most:  Time with Jesus.

Busy But Empty

I think one of the enemy’s greatest distractions today is busyness. Because if he can’t pull us away from God completely, he’ll settle for keeping us too distracted, too exhausted, and too overwhelmed to sit quietly with Him. And honestly? That’s where many women live.

We’re:

• answering texts

• cooking meals

• cleaning houses

• paying bills

• caring for children

• helping aging parents

• volunteering

• working jobs

• trying to keep everything together

And at the end of the day, we collapse into bed completely drained. Not because we don’t love God. But because we’ve filled our lives with so many “necessary” things that we’ve neglected the most important thing…His Presence.

Jesus Is Not Asking You to Do Everything Perfectly

This is the part that ministers to me the most. Jesus didn’t scold Martha. He invited her. “Martha, Martha…” There’s tenderness, compassion and understanding in those words. Jesus saw her overwhelmed heart and I believe He sees ours too.

He knows:

• the pressure we carry

• the expectations we feel

• the mental exhaustion

• the emotional weight

And maybe today He’s gently saying to us: “Come sit with Me for a while.”

Not:

• clean more

• perform more

• impress more

• accomplish more

Just:   come closer.

Choosing What Matters Most

Mary chose what mattered most. And maybe that’s the invitation for us too. Not to abandon responsibility. Not to stop serving, but to stop allowing busyness to steal our joy, peace, and relationship with Christ.

Maybe “choosing what matters most” looks like:

• opening your Bible before your phone

• sitting quietly with coffee and prayer

• worshipping while folding laundry

• saying no to unnecessary pressure

• simplifying expectations

• allowing imperfect moments to be enough

Maybe this year at Thanksgiving I really WILL order pizza.  Because at the end of the day, my family probably won’t remember whether every side dish was homemade.  (Although, my son and daughter-in-law did make me feel guilty because they had to make their own turkey and dressing on the Saturday after Thanksgiving). 

But they will remember:

• laughter

• conversation

• warmth

• togetherness

• peace

And honestly? I think Jesus cares more about that too.

Reflection Questions

• What is distracting you most right now?

• Are you spending more time serving Jesus than sitting with Him?

• What expectations are exhausting you unnecessarily?

• How can you intentionally choose “what matters most” this week?

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for understanding my tired and overwhelmed heart. Help me not become so distracted by responsibilities that I miss time with You. Teach me to choose what matters most and rest in Your presence. Give me wisdom to simplify my life and focus on the things that truly matter. Amen.

Jesus isn’t asking us to do more—He’s inviting us to come closer.