The One Thing Necessary

"But the Lord answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things;  but only a few things are necessary, really only one; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her."  Luke 10:41-42. 

Jesus had a way of cutting right to the heart of the matter.  He said that there was only one thing necessary.  Wow, only one.  Out of all the things that we have to worry about and he brings it down to one.  I believe Jesus was making the point that we should not worry and make a fuss over "things".   

I can relate to Martha's frustration with Mary's lack of concern for the things that needed to be done for the meal preparation.  I had felt the pressure involved with making sure the food taste delicious and is the proper temperature,  and is not over cooked or under cooked, and is served attractively.  I'm sure Martha just wanted everything to be "just right" for Jesus. But,  even our best intentions can go array.  Verse 40 tells us that she was distracted with all her preparations. 

We, too,  have been guilty of being distracted.  Have you ever been too busy?  Have you been so pressed for time  that you forgot to do something important?  Have you ever missed an important appointment because you were in the middle of something else?  Have you you ever been too busy.  I think Martha was too busy and she had forgotten what was really important.  Why had she invited Jesus to come and have a meal with her and her sister and brother?  She had invited him because she wanted to spend time with him.   And now he is there and she doesn't feel that she has time to sit down and listen to him. 

Mary, on the other hand, is not distracted at all.   She knows somehow, the importance of this moment.  She has chosen the one thing that is necessary.  Mary is seated at Jesus feet, (verse 39) and she is listening to the Lord's word.  Sitting at Jesus feet and hanging on to his every word is worship.  Worship is the one thing necessary.  All those other things will work out OK.  The meal will be eaten and forgotten, but Jesus words live on for all eternity. 

Give me a heart like Mary, Lord; a heart that worships.  May I choose the one  thing necessary and not be burdened with the busyness of life and all it's distractions.