Only One Thing is Needed

We live in a very busy world.  Life in the fast lane!  In earlier times life was much simpler for most people.  It was more complicated in one sense: they had to work harder for the basics in life, without the modern conveniences that we enjoy.  But for the most part, people lived closer to God’s creation, the earth, with fewer distractions, not knowing as much about what was happening in the world, living at a slower pace.  With no social media, TV/radio, or other electronic devices, they depended on real-life relationships, not the electronic communication that dominates our lives.  

End of Days?

An angel’s words to Daniel in 12:4 predicted our time, saying that at the time of the end, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”  With ease of travel and an explosion of information and knowledge, along with many other factors, it seems that we are in the last days.

Mary and Martha

To survive this modern chaos, it is good to focus on what is most important.  I’m drawn to Jesus and his friends Mary and Martha.  In Luke 10:38ff we read about them.  

“As Jesus and his disciples were on their  way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.  But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”  

“Martha, Martha,”the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

One Thing is Needed

Of course someone has to do the work, prepare food, make a living, take care of things.  We do need to do many things to survive in this life.   But Jesus pointed out to Martha NOT that doing the work was a bad thing, but worrying and getting upset about it was.  If the ONE THING, the relationship with Jesus that Mary had, comes first, then everything else will follow.  All the stuff we have to do will flow out of our relationship with Jesus.

David knew this.  In Psalm 27:4 he wrote, “One thing I have asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple.”

Rankings

We like to rank the importance of things in life.  Top tens, sports rankings, restaurant stars, etc. etc.! A typical life ranking for Christians has been something like this; God first, family second, work third, and other things after that.  But someone once said, “If God is number 1, there is no number 2”.  Because only “one thing” is really needed.  If we have a relationship with the living God, then every other aspect of  life is permeated by Him.  If God is number 1, everything else is enhanced, made better.  Rankings become irrelevant.  He is in us, and by His Spirit, we are led and directed in all of our life experiences.  

Christ in Us

We can truly experience, as Paul wrote in Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ, it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me”.  Again, he says in Colossians 3:2-3, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” He “set his mind” on us when He went to the cross on our behalf, so now He asks us to set our minds on Him.

Hebrews 12:2, “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

The paradox, one of many in our faith, is that dying to ourselves and focusing our minds and hearts on Him, makes everything else better!  If we sit at his feet, like Mary, we can be free from the anxiety and worry Martha had.

The work will get done, but it will be done so much better if Jesus is working through us.  He is the “One Thing” that we need.