The ONE THING that is needed...

Source: Google Images

When Jesus was invited to Martha, Mary and Lazarus’ place, Martha was busy serving, a perfectly normal thing for a host or hostess to do to make their guests feel welcome. Mary decided to hang out with Jesus and the other guests in the living room listening to Him and learning at His feet.

After toiling alone for a while, Martha wasn't amused. She stormed out of kitchen blaming both Jesus and Mary for the situation she was in. Heck, she even ordered Jesus to do what she thought was the right thing at the time – “Lord… tell her to help me” - the audacity, the gall!

Let’s pick up the conversation, shall we?

⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

⁴¹ And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. ⁴² But ONE THING is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” – Luke 10:40-42 NKJV (Emphasis added)

Serving in itself isn't a bad thing, but the motive behind our serving is what matters. What motivates us to serve? Is it the love of God in us compelling us to serve or are we busy serving to save our reputations? Are we trying to impress God – as if we can – by our serving, so He’ll somehow bless us in an area of lack in our lives? Or perhaps we are seeking the praise of men…motives for serving in whatever capacity are as varied as one could care to list, so yeah…

Just as Martha was distracted with much serving and ended up accusing and blaming Jesus and her sister Mary, we too can get distracted with many things, not necessarily sinful things, but just much activity in the name of serving or ministering. In the end we will fall into what I'll term as the "Martha Syndrome" - accusing God of not caring and our brothers and sisters of deserting us - while the truth is, all this time they have been enjoying the very presence of God and we are the ones who are troubled, worried and distracted by many things...Just because we have neglected that ONE THING that is needed - fellowshipping with GOD!

Now beloved, God’s presence is right where you are, He is Omnipresent, but it gets better, He is in you by His Holy Spirit, you are one with Him. No need of getting all weird and spooky, simply believe His Word and let His love compel you to serve in the right way and at the right time. Mary got to anoint Jesus before His death because she did the ONE THING needed – she sat at His feet and soaked in His Word. Remember the women who went to the grave to anoint Jesus’ body when He was buried and found the tomb empty? They missed out on an opportunity that only Mary had. 

There is tremendous value in doing the ONE THING – soaking in the presence and Word of God.

King David said it this way:

Source: Google Images

ONE THING have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I 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. – Psalm 27:4 ESV (Emphasis added)

Today, because of what Jesus did for us, we have what David could only desire, we are God’s dwelling place, our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God, now may the eyes of our understanding be enlightened that we may know the hope He has called us to and what we have in and through Him as per Ephesians 1:17-23.

Blessings!