Your One Thing
Linda Guy
" But one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part" Luke 10:42 Linda Guy
Have you, like Mary, chosen the one thing that is necessary?
There are different views as to what the 'one thing' was that Jesus spoke of. Martha was upset because she felt she had been left alone to do all the work, while Mary 'sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His word'. She came to Jesus in her frustration and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me alone to do all the serving. Tell her to help me." Jesus responded by lovingly drawing Martha's attention off Mary and onto her own condition. He contrasted her divided state of mind and emotion with the statement, "But One Thing is needful". Mary had chosen that 'one thing'; and He was not about to take it away from her to rescue Martha.
Some say the 'one thing' is being taught; that we must give priority to reading the Bible; to listening to the teaching and preaching of the 'word'. The implication is often, be 'in church'; attend meetings; listen to the pastor; have a quiet time each day; study the Scriptures. Others suggest the 'one thing' is to stop 'doing' and just 'be'.
A dichotomy is set up between 'being' and 'doing'. It is presented as an either/or choice. Either be a 'Mary' and just 'be'; or be a 'Martha' and 'do'. Or could the 'one thing' that is needed be, as the more pragmatic suggest, just one dish of food? Keep the food simple, Martha; don't prepare a gourmet meal.
If any of these are that 'one thing', then does pursuing them cure us of our worries, anxieties and frustrations? Do they bring into harmony the divided mind, will and emotions? Many things are good, many things are true; bou good is the enemy of the best, and only Truth sets us free. If Jesus did not specify what the one thing was, then can we be dogmatic about it? We who identify with Martha, want it. We desire that which can never be taken away from us, for we are tired of being frustrated, exasperated and unappreciated.
Martha was doing; but so was Mary. She was not doing her work, not helping, and not being controlled by Martha's expectations. Mary was sitting; she was listening and by implication she was yielded to Jesus. She was focusing on Him and enjoying His Presence. Many things, yet there was just 'one thing'. We struggle with this concept of one thing, for there is work to be done, families to be looked after, many things demanding our energy and focus. We reason that if only we could take the time to be a Mary to escape being a Martha, we would be happy.
This story encourages us that we can be sure that there is 'one thing' we are able to choose. We can be sure that in any situation only 'one thing' is needful, and it is within our immediate reach. The 'one thing' will always be the awareness of the Presence of Jesus, for it is only in His Presence that all our needs are met. He is our sufficiency in all circumstances. God deals with us as individuals, so the expression of His presence will differ. Truth must end at His feet; not at man's feet, so the one thing will be given to us by His indwelling Life.
I have often pondered what the one thing is but today I have a revelation. He gives me the 'one thing' I need, so I do not need to fret about it. He reveals it to me, and by faith I choose it.
My first blessing in this story came years ago when the 'one thing' I saw was the need to yield to Jesus, to cease from my works and enter into His rest and Life. Later He showed me the 'one thing' I was needful of was to listen to His Voice, and to not allow other people's voices to drown out His.
Last year, the 'one thing' for me was to simply allow Him lead me. In every situation, in every circumstance, in every state I was in; "Jesus, You are my Shepherd, lead me".
The one thing David longed for was to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Paul's 'one thing' was to forget that which was behind and to reach forward to what lay before.
What is your one thing? As you yield to the Presence of Christ in your heart, what is He saying the one thing is that is needful for you today? Rest in His desire to reveal it to you. You cannot obtain it by understanding, by commentaries or concordances, by studying the Greek, or even through another person. It must come from His still small voice within. You are not Mary; you are neither Martha nor Linda. He will personalize that 'one thing' for you, and it will be exactly what you need. It will encompass every area of your life. And because He has given it to you, He will never take it away.
Linda Guy
Copyright ©2002 Abiding Hearts