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

So here we have Martha the doer and Mary the hearer. The question is – is Jesus saying that one is right and one is wrong? 

Did Jesus say that Martha was wrong for serving? No. Serving is not wrong, in fact Jesus teaches us to serve throughout Scripture.

It’s important to consider each word in Scripture when you study. Jesus said that Martha was “distracted with much serving” or in other words, “anxious with a lot of ministry”. 

The idea is that she had too much to do. Why was it too much? Because she did not have time for the Lord.

He was teaching her (and us) that she was out of balance. Her priorities were not in order. She was not focused at all on Jesus and His teachings. 

It is possible to be in ministry and serving the Lord, and be so busy that you do not have time for the Lord. That is when you are too busy! You are out of balance. 

Have you ever been out of balance? I have!

Instead, we should strive to find the right balance – the balance of hearing and doing. It is not either/or. It is both/and. It is not choose one over the other. It is choose both! 

Warren Wiersbe said that we should imitate Martha in our service and Mary in our worship.

Do not be a hearer only. But also, do not be a doer only. Both of these extremes are out of balance!

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