“One Thing Is Necessary”

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. ³⁹ And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, ⁴² but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
– Luke 10:38-42

For many of us, this account challenges. We measure the success of our lives, it seems, based on how busy we are. We fill our calendars and days full of seemingly good things, and we carry a sense of pride that we can keep it all together. Or perhaps we simply don’t know any better. We fill our calendars because the word “No” is too difficult to speak. We don’t want to let anyone else down. But inwardly, perhaps we are frustrated, exhausted, and even a little resentful.

“Martha was distracted with much serving.” In this account, Martha is engaged in good work – she’s serving Jesus and His disciples! And yet, the description Luke uses for Martha is that she “was distracted.” If only we were distracted because we were serving! Many of us (myself included) struggle against constant distraction from far less noble pursuits: keeping up with our favorite sports teams, spending hours per week on social media, responding to every “ding” coming from our devices, paying too much attention to the 24-hour news cycle, devoting inordinate time and financial resources to recreational pursuits. The potential sources of distraction are endless! But so often, the pleasure they bring is temporary, and they leave us where we started, and where Martha found herself: “anxious and troubled…”

“But one thing is necessary.” Mary chose the good portion. Mary understood in that moment what was best for her, and Jesus was inviting Martha to experience it, too. God’s Word is our source of life and rest. In a world full of distraction, it uniquely has the power to focus our hearts and minds on what really matters. Over the past handful of months, I’ve been able to develop a better of habit of beginning every day in the Word, and when I do, the Holy Spirit has His way of focusing me on what is good and true: the love and faithfulness of God in Christ, the enduring nature of His Word, the wisdom of His ways.

Jesus is inviting you to sit before Him today. Your distraction of choice can wait for 15 minutes (or longer, if you are daring!). Open your Bible, and let Him serve you with the one thing necessary!

Christ’s peace and joy,
Pastor Baye