Many are familiar with the story of the two sisters from Bethany, found in Luke 10:38-42. Martha, the practical sister, busied herself with caring for the physical needs of her important guests. Meanwhile, Mary was focused on increasing her own spiritual understanding by listening to what Christ was teaching.

What can we learn from the examples of both women?

At that moment, Mary had the right idea. After all, the "Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). He wasn't looking for someone to see to His physical needs just then. Mary correctly discerned that the most important thing she could be doing at that moment was listening to what her Creator had to say. She had the spiritual, rather than the physical, as her first priority.

But, in contrast, were Martha's actions completely off-base? Obviously, she was corrected for being "worried and troubled about many things" (Luke 10:41), but she also had the excellent motivation of trying to serve her guests.

Paul writes that "as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith" (Galatians 6:10). Christ did not rebuke her diligence, but rather that she did not discern that at that time there was something of greater significance to focus on.

God does not ignore the need for physical work or service. In fact, He wants us to work hard in this life and do our best (Ecclesiastes 9:10). But we must also have our hearts attuned to what is necessary—to recognize what is crucial for our spiritual growth and that whatever that is should be our top priority.

Each of us needs to maintain the physical diligence of Martha, while having the spiritual discernment and focus of Mary. In short, it is wise to have Martha hands and a Mary heart.