Sitting at the Feet of Jesus
In a world that rewards busyness and applauds productivity, sitting at the feet of Jesus may be the most countercultural thing a believer can do.
Key Scripture
“But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42
Reflection
The scene is a familiar home in Bethany. Jesus has arrived, and Martha — warm, capable, and devoted — immediately sets to work. There is food to prepare, guests to serve, and a household to manage. She is doing good things, genuinely good things. And yet Jesus gently corrects her. Not because hospitality is wrong, but because something better was available, and she had missed it entirely.
Mary, meanwhile, had taken her place at Jesus’ feet. In first-century Jewish culture, this was the posture of a disciple — and disciples were men. For a woman to sit at a rabbi’s feet was a quiet act of cultural boldness. Mary was not simply relaxing while her sister worked. She was making a claim: that she, too, belonged in the presence of the Teacher. That learning from Jesus was her right, her calling, and her priority. It almost certainly cost her something in terms of social expectation and the disapproving eyes of those around her.
We are so quick to read this passage as a rebuke of Martha and a reward for Mary. But Jesus is not condemning Martha’s service — He is inviting her into something she had not yet chosen. The word He uses is striking: “one thing is needed.” Not ten things. Not a balanced spiritual portfolio. One thing. And that one thing is sitting at the feet of Jesus, unhurried, attentive, and fully present. Stillness, in this light, is not spiritual laziness. It is one of the most disciplined acts of faith we can offer.
The “good part” that Mary chose carries a promise attached to it — it will not be taken away from her. Every achievement you pour yourself into can be lost. Reputation fades. Ministries end. Seasons change. But what is received in the presence of Jesus — the knowing, the being known, the transformation that happens in quiet communion with Him — that cannot be stripped from you. In a productivity-obsessed culture that measures worth by output, Jesus is calling His people to choose the one investment that carries eternal returns.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I confess that I am often more like Martha than I care to admit. I fill my days with good things and wonder why I feel so distant from You. Forgive me for mistaking busyness for faithfulness. Teach me to be still. Help me to see that choosing to sit at Your feet is not wasted time — it is the wisest use of every moment I have. I want to choose the good part today. Quiet my heart, and let me truly hear You. Amen.
Today’s Action Step
Set a timer for ten uninterrupted minutes today — no phone, no to-do list, no background noise. Open your Bible to Luke 10:38–42, read it slowly, and simply sit with Jesus. Tell Him you are choosing the one thing. Let that be enough.