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 10:40–42

Martha’s encounter with the Lord is very instructive for each of us. She is a beautiful example of one who learned how to serve. We read of her serving here in our passage, then again in John 11, and also in John 12.

Here in Luke 10, Martha needed to learn—as Mary already had—that the Lord Jesus is the Prophet at whose feet we must sit and receive instruction. In John 11, she came to the Lord Jesus heartbroken over the death of her brother Lazarus, and she experienced His priestly care as He displayed His love. Then in John 12 we see Martha serving, Mary anointing the Lord Jesus, and Lazarus sitting with Him—each one giving us a picture of the privilege and position of the follower of Christ today. We are able to worship now the One before whom every knee will bow as King of kings and Lord of lords. Thus, in the lives of Martha and Mary, we see our Lord as Prophet, Priest, and King.

But what is especially instructive in today’s verse is how we can serve the Lord. We can serve Him as Martha did here—out of duty—or we can serve Him, as she does in John 12, out of devotion. It has been said that there is the service of attraction, the service of distraction, the service of action, and the service of satisfaction.

When we first come to the Lord and desire to worship Him through our service, who He is and what He has done for us draws us in. But sometimes we become so busy and occupied with our service that we lose sight of the One we are serving. When we are distracted, our service becomes mere activity—routine and motion without devotion.

But the good part that cannot be taken away is serving Him out of devotion. This is the service that truly satisfies.

When service is merely service, it becomes a religious routine; but when service flows out of a vibrant and genuine relationship with the Lord, it becomes worship. Martha learned this—beautifully displaying it in John 12.

Anchor For Today:
What is the motive for your service for the Lord today? Is it a sense of duty or does your service spring up from a heart of devotion?