Choosing Presence Over Productivity: The Call to Abide
Summary
Grace, mercy, and peace are gifts from God, and today, the Lord calls each of us to examine our priorities and the way we live. The story of Mary and Martha is not just about two sisters, but about the tension in every believer’s heart between serving and sitting, between busyness and being present with Jesus. Martha welcomed Jesus into her home and busied herself with serving, while Mary sat at His feet, listening to His teaching. Both loved the Lord, but Martha’s service became a distraction, pulling her away from the one thing truly necessary—abiding in Christ and receiving His word.
It is easy to fall into Martha’s pattern, especially in a world that prizes productivity, entertainment, and constant activity. Even good things—serving in the church, caring for family, working hard—can become obstacles if they crowd out time with Jesus. Our culture encourages us to divide our lives into compartments, to chase after many things, but Jesus insists that only one thing is needful: to hear His word and receive His gifts. The world, the devil, and even our own hearts will do everything possible to keep us from this, convincing us that we are too busy or that other things are more important.
Jesus did not come to be served, but to serve us. He comes into our lives not to demand our frantic activity, but to give us Himself—His teaching, His forgiveness, His very body and blood. Like Solomon, we can spend years chasing after what the world calls important, only to find it all meaningless in the end. The Lord invites us to repent, to turn from our distractions, and to receive the greater portion that will never be taken away. In Christ, we are freed from anxiety and striving, called instead to rest in His presence, to seek first His kingdom, and to trust that all else will be provided.
Key Takeaways
- The greatest danger for believers is not open rebellion, but subtle distraction. Even acts of service and devotion can become spiritual pitfalls if they replace time spent listening to Jesus. The heart of faith is not found in what we do for God, but in what we receive from Him—His word, His forgiveness, and His presence. [33:45]
- Our culture’s obsession with entertainment and busyness rewires our hearts and minds, making it difficult to be still before the Lord. The craving for constant stimulation can even shape our expectations of worship and spiritual life, leading us to seek novelty rather than depth. True spiritual renewal comes not from being entertained, but from quietly sitting at Jesus’ feet. [36:45]
- Jesus’ rebuke to Martha is a loving call to reorder our priorities. He reminds us that anxiety and striving are not marks of faithfulness, but signs that we have lost sight of what is truly necessary. The Lord’s desire is not to burden us with more to do, but to free us to receive His gifts and rest in His grace. [38:02]
- The wisdom of Solomon teaches us that a life spent chasing after worldly achievements, pleasures, and distractions ultimately leads to emptiness. Only by remembering our Creator and seeking Him in our youth and throughout our lives do we find lasting meaning. The “one thing needful” is not a task to accomplish, but a relationship to cherish. [40:00]
- Jesus invites us to trust in the Father’s care, to seek first His kingdom, and to let go of anxious striving for the things of this world. The promise is not that life will be free of trouble, but that in Christ, we have all that we truly need. To sit at His feet is to receive the peace that surpasses understanding and the assurance that we are God’s beloved children. [41:49]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[31:48] - The Lord’s Message: A Call to Repent and Believe
[32:28] - Mary and Martha: Two Sisters, Two Priorities
[33:07] - The Trap of Good Works Over Abiding
[33:45] - When Service Distracts from Christ
[34:20] - Church Attendance and Bible Study Patterns
[35:34] - The Third Commandment and Sacred Priorities
[36:10] - The Modern Distraction of Entertainment
[36:45] - The Cost of Constant Busyness
[38:02] - Jesus Came to Serve, Not to Be Served
[38:45] - The World’s Efforts to Distract Us
[39:22] - Solomon’s Wisdom: Chasing the Wind
[40:00] - The Futility of Worldly Pursuits
[41:15] - The One Thing Needful: The Gospel
[41:49] - Jesus’ Words on Worry and Priorities
[43:44] - Repentance and Receiving the Greater Portion
[44:24] - Prayer and the Peace of God
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The One Thing Needful
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### Bible Reading
Luke 10:38-42 (ESV)
> Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
Matthew 6:25-34 (ESV)
> “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ... But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Ecclesiastes 12:1 (ESV)
> Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them.”
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### Observation Questions
1. In the story of Mary and Martha, what specific actions did each sister take when Jesus visited their home? (Luke 10:38-42)
2. According to Jesus’ words in Matthew 6, what are some of the things people tend to worry about, and what does He say to do instead? [41:49]
3. What does Solomon conclude about chasing after worldly things in Ecclesiastes? [39:22]
4. In the sermon, what examples were given of things that can distract us from spending time with Jesus? [36:45]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does Jesus say that “only one thing is necessary” when speaking to Martha? What does He mean by “the good portion”? (Luke 10:42)
2. The sermon mentions that even good things, like serving in the church or caring for family, can become distractions. How can believers tell when their service is pulling them away from Jesus rather than drawing them closer? [33:45]
3. How does our culture’s obsession with entertainment and busyness affect our ability to be present with God? [36:45]
4. What does it look like, practically, to “seek first the kingdom of God” in daily life? [41:49]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says, “The greatest danger for believers is not open rebellion, but subtle distraction.” What is one subtle distraction in your life that keeps you from spending time with Jesus? How could you address it this week? [33:45]
2. Think about your weekly schedule. Are there activities—even good ones—that consistently crowd out time for prayer, worship, or Bible reading? What is one change you could make to prioritize “the one thing needful”? [34:20]
3. The pastor described how our desire for entertainment can shape our expectations of church and spiritual life. Have you ever found yourself wanting church or Bible study to be more “entertaining”? How might this affect your spiritual growth? [36:45]
4. Jesus invites us to rest in His presence and let go of anxious striving. What is one area of your life where you feel anxious or pressured to “do more”? How can you bring that anxiety to Jesus this week? [38:02]
5. Solomon looked back on his life and saw that chasing after achievements and pleasures was “meaningless.” Is there something you are pursuing that, in light of eternity, might not matter as much as you think? How can you shift your focus? [40:00]
6. The sermon calls us to “repent, to turn from our distractions, and to receive the greater portion.” What would repentance look like for you in this area? Is there a specific step you can take to sit at Jesus’ feet more regularly? [44:24]
7. Jesus promises that if we seek first His kingdom, “all these things will be given to you as well.” What would it look like for you to trust God’s provision instead of worrying about your needs? [41:49]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Ask God to help you recognize and set aside distractions, to give you a heart that longs to sit at Jesus’ feet, and to trust Him to provide for all your needs.
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