◆“The Most Important Thing” (Luke 10:38–42) June 1, 2025

There were two sisters, Martha and Mary. Their personalities seemed to be quite opposite. Martha was the active type?attentive to various details and quick to act. Mary, on the other hand, was thoughtful and introspective. Both are wonderful ways of being that God has given.

We, too, often talk about extroverts vs. introverts, active vs. reflective types, and usually, we admire those who are different from ourselves. But since God created us all, there is no superiority or inferiority in these types.

However, Jesus is not addressing personality types here. He is not saying that being reflective is better than being active or that introverts are better than extroverts.

So what is Jesus actually saying?

In verse 40, the word “distracted” is used. Martha was distracted, anxious. Jesus says she is “worried and upset.” But then He adds, “Only one thing is needed.”

This word “distracted” is translated in various versions: “troubled in heart” (Kougo-yaku), “restless in heart” (Shinkaiyaku 2017), and “in a flurry of busy work” (Living Bible). Jesus is speaking not about her actions, but about the state of her heart?her inner condition.

The original Greek suggests that her heart is “being pulled away toward something.” Not “from something,” but “toward something.” Her heart is being drawn away from where it truly belongs. It can also mean “sending troops in a hurry”?something urgent happens, and you must act quickly.

Let’s reflect today on what happens when our hearts are pulled away from where they are meant to be?leading to distraction and inner turmoil. This is something we all experience.

There are two main areas that tend to pull our hearts away:

1. The Intellect

Since the 19th century, we’ve been living in the “Age of Reason.” Only what can be understood is considered true; what cannot be explained is dismissed. The desire to see, understand, and verify is strong.

This mindset has influenced theology. Scholars began approaching the Bible with doubt, examining it critically. Believers, too, compare various commentaries and seek intellectual understanding. But this doesn’t always lead to spiritual growth. They remain lifelong students, without forming a solid foundation of faith?and thus become vulnerable to spiritual attack.

2 Timothy 3:7 warns about such people: “always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

What should we do?

Jesus says in John 7:17 (Kougo-yaku), “If anyone chooses to do God’s will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”
In other words, “Try obeying, and you’ll see.” It’s not “understand first, then obey,” but rather, “obey first, then you will understand.”

2. The Self

We’re often pulled into ourselves?our past, our wounds, even our achievements. These things prevent us from seeing the present clearly and responding wisely. Personally, my failures and embarrassing memories are more vivid than any success. This leads me to hesitate, fearing I’ll fail again.

In faith, this manifests when we’re bound by past sins. We start thinking, “I’ll probably sin again,” and this hinders us from seeing the work of the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes, we are also distracted by others?comparing ourselves constantly: “Compared to that person, I’m nothing.”

Remember when people started saying “EQ is more important than IQ”? Emotional intelligence?empathy and emotional richness?was suddenly valued. But the point isn’t which is better. God gives both as He wills. We should stop obsessing over “which is superior.”

When we are pulled toward ourselves or our comparisons, we become anxious. Why? Because our hearts are no longer anchored where they should be.

That’s why Jesus says, “Only one thing is necessary.”
He doesn’t fully explain it?He leaves it for Martha to think about.

That’s a lesson for us modern people. We always seek immediate answers. Surrounded by conveniences like AI, we’re losing the ability to reflect deeply.

But Luke gives us a hint: Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He said” (v.39). Unlike Martha, busy with hospitality, Mary’s choice might seem unproductive?but Jesus called it “the better part.”

Mary chose. She could’ve helped Martha. But she chose to sit and listen. That took courage. Yet Jesus affirmed her decision, saying it “will not be taken away from her.”

In summary:

Our hearts are constantly being pulled away?toward intellect, the self, or comparisons. But Jesus says, “Only one thing is needed.”

That one thing is to sit at His feet, spend time with Him, and listen?not rushing off to analyze, but simply obeying.

This is devotion?quieting ourselves before God, asking the Spirit for help, reading the Word, meditating, sharing with others, praying?and then standing up to act. “Try it, and you’ll see.” And in doing so, as our church vision says, we will see God’s Word embodied in everyday life.

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Sermon script modified based on proofreading and translation with ChatGPT.