Jesus said this to Martha, a sister of Mary and Lazarus:
“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42 NASB
But only one thing is necessary!
And that one thing, Mary, Martha’s sister, has chosen it. What was that one thing?
Well, Martha was complaining about her sister, Mary who was seeking this “one thing.”
Listen to the whole passage:
“Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. She had a sister called Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”” Luke 10:38-42 NASB
What do you think that Mary has chosen?
Yes, Mary has chosen sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His word.
This is like we, sitting with our Bible and note book, reading and studying the word of God.
Jesus was not actually rebuking Martha for trying to prepare food for the guests who have come to their house.
No!
Jesus rebuked her attitude which should have been a grateful one had she been sat down with her Bible and let the word softens her spirit (sitting at the feet of Jesus).
When we sit with the word of God on a daily basis as we always sit to eat our meals, we exhibit seven foundational Christian characters:
- We live and walk in faith.
Our faith starts to grow in every step of our ways. We don’t just believe God. We trust Him to fulfill His words. That is what “believing in God” means. So, we walk in faith, knowing that “Heaven and earth will pass away, but” God’s “words will never pass away” Matthew 24:35 NIV
- We grow in taking confidence in the faithfulness of God
Everybody and everything may fall short of being faithful; but God, praise God, but God will never stop being faithful because that is who He is!
“Your faithfulness continues throughout all generations;
You established the earth, and it stands.” Psalm 119:90 NASB
So, our confidence stands on His faithfulness!
- We learn how to live, 24/7, in the presence of God
We don’t just go to church and try to find God’s presence in the chapel. Oh, no! We come to learn that God is found wherever and everywhere and we learn to walk in His presence, day and night.
King David sang to God saying:
“You have enclosed me behind and before,
And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
It is too high, I cannot attain to it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me,
And the light around me will be night,”
Even the darkness is not dark to You,
And the night is as bright as the day.
Darkness and light are alike to You.” Psalm 139:5-12 NASB
When we learn to live in God’s presence, we learn to fear Him only, not mere man or any life difficult circumstances.
Jesus said,
“I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do. But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” Luke 12:4-5 NASB
- We know that no matter what, God protects us
The word of God says “I am with you” repeatedly in different ways so we know that He protects us.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NASB
So, we confidently say:
“If God is for us, who is against us?” Romans 8:31 NASB
And just like sheep, we also know that we cannot protect nor save ourselves. It is only our faithful Shepherd who can protect us. As we grow into this knowledge, we stop fearing anybody or anything but God.
“I will lift up my eyes to the mountains;
From where shall my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.
The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade on your right hand.
The sun will not smite you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
The Lord will protect you from all evil;
He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever.” Psalm 121
- We grow in the knowledge that God is always in control, that we’re not
God is in control because power belongs to Him alone! He is the Author of everything, except sin! And He is the One who is always in control of everything and everybody, including angelic beings.
“Once God has spoken;
Twice I have heard this:
That power belongs to God;” Psalm 62:11
- We come to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God hears us when we pray
Listen to this:
“Pay heed, you senseless among the people;
And when will you understand, stupid ones?
He who planted the ear, does He not hear?
He who formed the eye, does He not see?
He who chastens the nations, will He not rebuke,
Even He who teaches man knowledge?
The Lord knows the thoughts of man,
That they are a mere breath.” Psalm 94:8-11 NASB
Wow! That is like a slap in the face of a person who doubts God’s ability to listen to our prayers.
Jesus said,
“Whatever you ask in My name, that will I do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it.” John 14:13-14 NASB
We learn how to take comfort not only in His answers but in the fact that He hears us when we call on Him.
John writes:
“This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.” 1 John 5:14 NASB
Beautiful, isn’t it! Yes, God hears us when we call Him!
What more do we need?
My friend, God hears us when we pray to Him according to His will. And His will for us is mainly to seek Him through Jesus Christ.
- And, we come to know that God is SOVEREIGN
When we learn how God is sovereign over all creations, visible and invisible, we scorn any storm and sufferings we may face in this life because we know that the sovereign LORD knows how to make “all things together” for our own good. Praise God! (Romans 8:28)
After revealing the surpassing truth and mystery of the sovereignty of God, Paul, being overtaken in owe of God, said:
“Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.” Romans 11:33-36 NASB
Yes, only one thing is necessary for us in this life:
The Word of God! ///