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.”
Luke 10:38-42
Martha and Mary lived in a small town near Jerusalem called Bethany. The house belonged to Martha; she lived there with her sister Mary and with her brother Lazarus. Jesus visited them many times, even just before He went to Jerusalem to die there. In this family He found hospitality and true friendship. This must have been very precious to Him because in His short life here on earth He had to deal mostly with misunderstanding and enmity.
Martha is the eldest and feels very responsible for the affairs of her home. She has many guests because it is not only the Lord who is visiting her, He has also brought His disciples with Him. It must not have been easy to provide all these men with drink and food. Martha goes to great lengths to make everyone comfortable.
Meanwhile, her sister Mary sits among the others at the feet of the Lord to listen to what He has to say. Mary loves the Word of God, absorbs it completely and seems to have no regard at all for the work that needs to be done. She has a great desire to hear the things that can fill her heart and satisfy the spiritual hunger in her soul. Anyone who belongs to Jesus knows that His words are not just interesting wisdom that one can philosophize about without obligation. When He speaks, they are living words from God Himself. He alone speaks words that can touch man's deepest being because He is our Creator, who knows what we need.
Mary realizes this and sits at His feet not to miss a word. But to Martha all this passes by. She gets so worked up about it that, in the midst of the company, she urges Jesus to call her sister to order. The expected support fails to materialize. Jesus wouldn't have brought it up if she hadn't complained to Him about her sister. But now that she does, He kindly points her out. Twice He lovingly addresses her by her name: "Martha, Martha." Jesus certainly does have an eye for her, only He cannot go along with her fussing. He has to tell her that the best part is not in working hard and serving, but in listening and hearing the Word. Nothing in the world compares to that. The good part is Jesus Christ Himself. He is the Word. (John 1) The Word is eternal.
The good part is not what we can do for Him, but what He can do for us.
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
How much time a day do you spend reading the Bible and talking to God? Stop running and flying. See where you can and want to set aside time to be alone with Him. Make that a habit. Start with just ten minutes and be consistent in this. Over time you will find that you can't go beyond this time with Him and that ten minutes is not enough. Tell Him in prayer where your concerns lie and open the Bible to see what God has to say to you that day.