What does "Mary has chosen what is better" teach about spiritual priorities?

The Snapshot: Mary, Martha, and the Master

Luke 10:42: “but only one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, and it will not be taken away from her.”

• Martha was busy with honorable service; Mary was seated, listening.

• Jesus acknowledged Martha’s work yet redirected attention to the “one thing” that outranks every other task.

• “Good portion” (or “better”) uses inheritance language—Mary selected the lasting share.

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What Jesus Saw

• Two sisters loved Him, but their focus differed:

– Martha: activity for Christ.

– Mary: intimacy with Christ.

• Service is good (Galatians 5:13), yet it must flow from fellowship; otherwise, it breeds distraction and anxiety (Luke 10:40-41).

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Why Mary’s Choice Was Better

• It centered on Jesus Himself—the Word made flesh (John 1:14).

• It satisfied the deepest hunger: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God” (Deuteronomy 8:3; cp. Matthew 4:4).

• It secured something imperishable: “it will not be taken away from her,” echoing treasures “where neither moth nor rust destroy” (Matthew 6:19-20).

• It aligned with God’s declared priority: “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33).

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Lessons for Our Spiritual Priorities Today

• Relationship before responsibility

– Cultivate time at Jesus’ feet before stepping into tasks.

• Word before work

– The Word shapes motives; work then becomes worship (Colossians 3:23-24).

• Eternal before temporal

– The unseen is “eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18); the seen is passing.

• Rest before rush

– Sabbath-like pauses refresh service (Mark 6:31).

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Putting It Into Practice

• Schedule daily unhurried Scripture intake—start with a gospel passage, listen as Mary did.

• Keep a “Martha list” of duties, but prayerfully rank them after meeting with Jesus.

• Let ministry spring from overflow, not obligation (John 15:4-5).

• Review priorities weekly, asking: “Does this choice draw me closer to Christ or merely keep me busy?”

• Memorize reinforcing verses—Psalm 27:4; Philippians 3:8; Joshua 1:8—and recite them when duties crowd out devotion.

Mary models the supreme spiritual priority: sit at the Lord’s feet, hear His voice, and let every other commitment flow from that better, enduring portion.