Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Good morning from Colorado! Yesterday, we began our mini Bible study by looking at the Parable of the Talents and asking what we are doing with what God has placed in our hands. Today, I want us to look at something just as important: what happens when we become so busy doing that we forget to simply be?
Let’s Read the Scripture
Luke 10:38–42 — Jesus Visits Mary and Martha
Jesus visits the home of two sisters, Mary and Martha. Martha becomes busy preparing and serving, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet and listens to Him. Eventually, Martha becomes frustrated and asks Jesus to tell Mary to help her. But Jesus responds by telling Martha that she is worried and troubled about many things, while Mary has chosen what is better.
Now, I have to admit, Martha gets a bad reputation in this story.
But I don’t think Jesus criticized her for serving. Somebody had to prepare the meal! Her desire to serve wasn’t the problem.
The problem was that her service had become so all-consuming that she could no longer enjoy the presence of the One she served.
That makes me pause.
How easy is it for us to become so busy taking care of everything that we don’t take time to sit quietly with God?
We can fill our calendars. We can help everyone around us. We can work, volunteer, manage households, build businesses, care for families, and accomplish things that genuinely matter.
But somewhere in the middle of all that doing, we can become spiritually exhausted.
And sometimes we can even become resentful because other people aren’t doing as much as we are.
That’s where Martha found herself.
She wasn’t simply busy.
She was bothered.
She looked at Mary sitting at Jesus’ feet and essentially said, “Why isn’t she helping me?”
Jesus didn’t tell Martha that serving was wrong. He pointed her back toward what mattered most in that moment.
Mary had stopped long enough to listen.
Perhaps that’s the lesson for us.
There will always be something that needs to be done.
But there won’t always be a moment like this one.
Questions to Consider
1. What currently occupies most of my attention?
Think about where your time, energy, and thoughts are going. Is everything on your list truly necessary?
2. Have I become so busy doing good things that I’ve stopped making time for God?
Not everything that keeps us busy is bad. Sometimes even good responsibilities can leave us with nothing left to give spiritually.
3. Am I frustrated with someone because I believe they’re not doing enough?
Before judging someone else’s activity, ask whether God may be inviting you to examine your own heart.
4. When was the last time I simply sat quietly with God?
Not asking for something. Not solving something. Not planning something. Just being present.
5. What would I have to release or rearrange to create more room for God?
Maybe it isn’t about finding another hour. Maybe it begins with fifteen intentional minutes.
The Lesson
I don’t believe Jesus was telling Martha that work doesn’t matter. I believe He was reminding her that our relationship with God cannot always be pushed to the bottom of the list.
There will always be another task.
Another email.
Another phone call.
Another responsibility.
Another problem waiting for our attention.
But God isn’t asking us to prove our worth by how much we can accomplish.
Sometimes He simply wants us to sit down.
Listen.
Breathe.
Be still.
And remember who He is.
Perhaps that’s why I like the name 15 Minutes with God. Fifteen minutes doesn’t sound like much when compared with everything competing for our attention. But fifteen intentional minutes can become a beginning.
Mary didn’t accomplish more than Martha that day.
She simply recognized that being in the presence of Jesus was something worth stopping for.
Maybe we need to recognize that too.
Pause and Pray
Father, help me recognize when busyness is taking the place of being with You. Give me wisdom to know what truly requires my attention and courage to release what doesn’t.
Teach me to slow down, listen, and enjoy Your presence without feeling guilty for sitting still.
Help me remember that I don’t have to accomplish something every moment to have value.
Sometimes I simply need to be with You.
Amen.
Before you move into the rest of your day, give God fifteen minutes.
Not because He needs your time.
Because your soul does.
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