Choose Better

In Luke 10:38-42, we encounter a profound tension between two sisters that mirrors our own spiritual struggles today. Martha opens her home to Jesus and busies herself with preparations—doing everything culturally expected, everything honorable and responsible. Meanwhile, Mary breaks every social norm by sitting at Jesus' feet in the posture of a disciple, a position reserved exclusively for men in first-century Jewish culture. This wasn't a small act of defiance; it was radical, disruptive, and shocking to everyone present. Yet Jesus doesn't correct Mary—He defends her. This passage challenges us to examine what we're choosing in our own lives: are we selecting what's good, or what's better? Like an optometrist flipping lenses asking 'better here or better here?', Jesus presents us with choices that aren't between bad and good, but between good and better. We live in a culture obsessed with busyness, checking our phones 96 times a day, trapped in 'continuous partial attention' where we're never fully present anywhere. We're killing ourselves chasing societal expectations—working longer hours to afford things we don't truly need, sacrificing intimacy with God and loved ones for achievements that look responsible but leave us spiritually empty. The most dangerous distractions aren't sinful; they're respectable. Martha's service wasn't wrong, but Mary chose what was essential: sitting at Jesus' feet. The question isn't whether we're doing something bad—it's whether we're choosing what's best. What has quietly replaced our 'one thing'? This message calls us back to intentional focus, reminding us that we can serve Jesus and stop seeing Jesus, that everything urgent isn't sacred, and that choosing better today protects who we're becoming tomorrow.