“Only One Thing is Needed”
“And Jesus answered, and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art anxious and troubled about many things.” Luke 10:41.
Help Me!
Martha, sister of Mary, had invited Jesus to her house. When the men sat down to listen to Jesus teach about God, the women were usually working around the house. They would prepare the food for the guests, keep the house clean, and clean up afterwards. But, Martha was worried and upset. She was distracted by the preparations that had to be made. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Mary was listening at the feet of Jesus with respect, and Martha was working – doing all the work. Jesus was tired from a long trip, and hungry. When Martha makes, what was by every indication a justifiable protest about the action of her sister, Jesus surprisingly sides with Mary. He says to Martha, “Mary is right, listening to me.” This is the one thing missing in Martha. Martha needed eternity, devotion, but was embroiled in all the preparations she had to make.
Worrying
Mary and Martha are here contrasted. Martha didn’t stop to think for a moment what she was saying, and lost sight of what, at the moment when Jesus came, mattered most. Jesus knew Martha was worried and tried to calm her. Jesus then guided her about what was really important, saying, “But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke10:42). By contrast, Mary saw the moment, and took it, much to Martha’s consternation, listening to great things from the lips of Jesus. Most people have no problem identifying with Martha. Why? She “worried over many things.” Like Martha many are busy daily; running to and fro, no time to meditate on the word of God, to listen to His Word, a desire for eternal life. Too busy! It’s a common trait. Worry and anxiety follows. Stress levels, subsequently, build up. (Math 6:25.27).
Jesus makes it very clear regarding His attitude about worrying:
“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Math 6:34).
Stop, Step Back, Be Silent
This is easily said, we can all agree, but living it out is something else! We need to stop, step back, and determine what is really important in life. “Be silent and know that I am God.”(Ps. 46:10). This does not come easily. We need to search and be aware of opportunities. Attending church is one opportunity, for we are directed to God, the source of all life, hope, love, and joy, and knowing what you strive for; “the gate to Heaven” (5T491). Furthermore, remember those precious moments of communion, concentrating on what it means. Also, being quiet in the presence of our fellow Christians, not bearing all the burdens, but allowing others to care; leaving “things” to other people at times. In addition, learning to say “no,” but, very importantly, yes to “giving”! “The heart should be kept open by a continual stream of giving.”(3T 393-394). “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”(Acts 20:35).
Steps To Christ
Martha, furthermore, needed great progress spiritually, the Good News of the time, and the Words of Jesus. God needs workers. God needs faithful believers, God-fearing servants, courageous followers. But, first, one must humbly sit at the feet of Jesus, like Mary and Magdalene. We need to learn to study the life of Jesus, to share with others, to be alert to the teachings and times of Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Life.
We don’t take time to admire the wide array of flowers, the birds of the air, trees, the sky, the clouds, meditating on the greatness of His creation. In one day, the fourth day, the solar system was created: the sun, moon, and distant stars. The Creator spoke the first day and there was light – separating day from night. When the heavens and earth were finished on the sixth day, God gave us the seventh day rest Ð the Sabbath. Every time we read the Bible, feel as Mary did with Jesus Christ. When praying, God helps us when opening the Bible to listen to the Word of God as Mary did Ð to hear His voice!
Sacred Time
Time is precious, a commodity. Time, moreover, does not wait for us. Hideous disasters and dreadful tragedies are occurring worldwide – daily! Lives are wiped out in the “blink of an eye.” Pray, therefore, that time will not be wasted or squandered away on “many things,” on “distractions,” but to use our time wisely by reading the Bible, by listening to the voice of the Creator. It can be likened to an earthly father explaining something to an attentive, listening son. But, however, much more are the precious words of Jesus.
Scriptures Speak Out
Well, we are not indispensable, however, we can gain a new perspective to sort out those things which really matter in life from those which may seem to, but actually don’t matter so much, but are petty and a distraction. For some reason or reasons, Martha lost this balance in her busy life, the balance between “being and doing”! It may not have occurred to her that Jesus was only to be there for a short time; no other chance to sit at His feet and listen. In her distraction she may have thought, “I heard this before.” But, we have to be prepared to listen. Some of the scriptures in the Bible may be well known to us, or we “know all about them.” Ah! But, these scriptures speak out to us throughout life, in different ways, in different occasions, different places, different speakers. But, we have to be prepared to listen, and not to think, “oh, I’ve heard this story before,” or, “I’ve heard this sermon before.” This is the sublime mystery of the scriptures! If we stop hearing, our faith will become rigid and inflexible, and it will lose its “aliveness”, and may become “one more thing to worry about.” Consequently, we will regress, harden our hearts, backslide, and apostatize. We can so easily end up trying to earn our salvation and peace, instead of accepting them as the freely offered gifts of God. Then all of this will be one more thing to worry about, and become “busy with many things,” when it is better to sit at the feet of Jesus and listen to His voice and what He wants us to hear. You see, there’s no reason to be “worried and upset” over people, different faiths or beliefs, other styles and traditions, and “things.”
Ultimate Choice
When Jesus Christ visited the home of Mary and Martha, both were challenged to respond to His holy presence. There were two different responses, two different characters. If we are to learn anything from this story, we have to relate to them, and determine which of the two reflects the lives we live today. Is your character somewhere in between Martha’s and Mary’s? Or, where are you leaning? Too much one way or the other? Remember, too, that “God’s work needs the characteristics of Martha.”(DA525). The idea is not to eliminate Martha entirely, but to help her stop being distracted with much serving. Jesus saw Mary’s heart – through all her imperfections, she loved Jesus! And He loved her – just as He loves you and I, even when we do something that others may think is “strange” or “stupid.” It doesn’t really matter what others think – it’s what God thinks! Then the final question is, what direction or change are we going to have and when? Even so, endeavor to choose the good part of our lives. To be sure, we are often busy living life, but let’s try to remember when things get busy, it’s still important to spend time with God. Don’t be distracted by life’s worries, and the things of the world that aren’t going to matter in the end. “No one can serve two masters.” (Matt. 6:24).”But, seek ye first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given you.” (Math 6:23). Finally, keep your eye on the prize!
Bitterness
Lastly, Martha is defined as “bitterness.” God still loved Martha as He did Mary, but if worry overwhelms you, it’s hard not to become bitter. Don’t, therefore, worry! There’s an old hymn that goes, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus – Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
Great Martha’s
Having been raised in a Greek culture, Greek women are great Martha’s and proud of it. Gospel hospitality, however, will not allow people to starve physically or spiritually anywhere in the world.
True welcoming is more interested in the “needs” of the guest than the “preferences” of the host.
May the Lord help us to sit at the feet of Jesus, learn, meditate, and live the teachings of Jesus daily in practice, that we may be a true blessing for ourselves, family, church, community, and others, that we can worship and serve by choosing that one missing part – in answer to – “Only One Thing Is Needed.”
Amen.
John Theodorou, USA