Are You Sitting at His Feet or Caught in the Chaos?

How is it that you’ve chosen a path to God but still lack peace? Are you like Martha in Luke 10—busy with tasks, preparations, and the good things, yet missing the best thing? Let’s break this down and reflect on what it means to sit at Jesus’ feet.

When you chose to believe in God, you chose the narrow path, inviting Him into your life. Like Martha, who welcomed Jesus into her home, you welcomed the Spirit of God into your heart. Yet, it’s possible to have His presence with us and still fail to rest in Him. Martha’s story is a mirror for many of us today: we’re distracted by what needs to be done, even when God is calling us to something better.

The Battle Plan: Military Analogy of Spiritual Readiness

Think about the military. A soldier doesn’t just run onto the battlefield unprepared. First, they receive orders, train, and prepare under the guidance of a commanding officer. There’s a structure to this process—moments of stillness and discipline before the action. Similarly, in our spiritual walk, God is our Commander. He calls us to His feet first to teach, train, and equip us. Only then does He send us out, ensuring we’re truly ready.

If a soldier bypassed orders to act on their own, it might look courageous to the untrained eye, but it could be reckless and detrimental to the mission. Martha’s busyness—though well-intentioned—was like a soldier charging ahead without awaiting instructions. Jesus’ words to her were gentle but clear: “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things. Few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42). The "one thing" was not activity but intimacy with Him.

The Two-by-Two Model: Horizontal and Vertical Partnerships

At the beginning of Luke 10, Jesus sent out the 72 disciples in pairs, saying, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Luke 10:2). This two-by-two partnership carries both horizontal and vertical dimensions.

• Horizontal Partnership: This represents our relationships with others. The disciples were sent in pairs to support, encourage, and share the load with one another. In the same way, we are called to work alongside others, as Mary and Martha did in their shared household. However, partnerships only thrive when both individuals are aligned with God’s direction.

• Vertical Partnership: This reflects our relationship with God. Before stepping into the mission, the disciples had to align with their Commander, Jesus. Martha’s struggle arose because she was focused on the horizontal—getting Mary to help her—while missing the vertical alignment of sitting at Jesus’ feet.

Mary and Martha’s relationship is an example of how these partnerships can complement each other. Martha sought to involve Mary in her labor, just as Jesus instructed the disciples to pray for more workers. But Jesus reminded her that no partnership, horizontal or otherwise, can replace the primary call to sit with Him in vertical alignment.

The Trap of Toiling Without Command

Sometimes, we confuse busyness with obedience. Like Martha, we work hard, thinking we’re serving God. We might be eager to lead, teach, minister, or fulfill our dreams. But without surrendering our plans to God, our toiling can feel empty—even if it looks successful on the outside.

Martha’s labor was good but not commanded. She was distracted by preparations, perhaps even cooking or arranging meals for Jesus and His followers. These were noble tasks, but they weren’t the “one thing” needed. Even good things can become distractions when they’re not rooted in God’s instruction.

As believers, we often package our busyness as serving God, but is it what He asked us to do? A soldier might want to impress their Commander with effort, but obedience is what truly counts. When God calls us to His feet, it’s not a pause in the mission; it’s the foundation for it.

Seek First the Kingdom

Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33). Sitting at His feet doesn’t mean neglecting responsibilities. It means aligning with Him first so everything else can fall into place. When we seek Him first, He orders our steps, strengthens our partnerships, and prepares us for action.

A Call to Rest and Readiness

Mary chose what was better—sitting at Jesus’ feet—and Jesus affirmed that it would not be taken from her. This wasn’t just rest for rest’s sake; it was preparation. God is a God of order, and He calls us to be still and know He is God before He commands us to go. Like a soldier awaiting deployment, we must be ready to respond, but readiness begins with listening and learning.

When we prioritize our vertical partnership with God, our horizontal partnerships with others flourish. Whether we’re sent two by two or called to work alone, our effectiveness flows from time spent at His feet.

So ask yourself: Are you distracted like Martha, or are you sitting at His feet like Mary? Choose the better thing—it will not be taken away from you.