Many expositors in their comparison of Mary and Martha, degrade Martha when comparing her to Mary simply because she is only serving. Serving when properly administered is a major part of worship. Admittedly, people can be busy serving and in that service not worshipping. Serving is a work and that work involves time. Anything in the material realm is a by-product of time.
Money when earned is a representative of a service rendered.
Mary will be seen sacrificing the spikenard, a very costly ointment. Someone had to pay for it. To make the purchase someone had to invest time. That time was service. Service however, alone does not constitute worship.