Martha was carnal, even though she was doing things unselfishly for the Lord and His people. But Mary was spiritually minded, listening to the Lord. All of us have a list of priorities in life, even if we are unconscious about it. A man whose child has to be taken to the doctor gives up temporarily his need to mend his clothes because of such priorities. It is not that certain things need not be done, such as Martha cooking for the Lord, but that we should recognise the need to listen to Him as a greater priority.
Man needs bread to live.
If we listen to Him, the other things in life will also fall into their proper places. We can avoid much sin and do much 'good' even without listening to God. But then we would miss out on what He has prepared for us. Listening to God is not the same as reading the Bible in the 'quiet time'. Many who read the Bible much just increase in knowledge without getting to know God.