One Thing is Needful

Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word. But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said,

"Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me."

And Jesus answered and said unto her,

"Martha, Martha, you are careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

-- Luke 10:38-42

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What is the "one thing" that was needful? Hearing His word! We can't sit at Jesus' feet today, but we still have His Word from which to learn "that good part".

The vast majority of professing Christians are caught up in what A.W. Pink described as the "snare of service". They have "programs", "ministries", and "communions". There is "church service" on Wednesdays and Sundays, vacation Bible school in the summer, and Christmas plays in December. Though these things are foreign to the Bible, they pursue them as if commanded by God from the terrible thunderings of Sinai.

These services cannot be supported by Scripture, but they do require another kind of support: There are fund raisers, sermons on the tithe, and all manner of "money changers" that are ripe to feel the sting of the "scourge of small cords" that Jesus wielded in John 2:15. And with Christ removed as the Head of the Body, the Church, the "leaders" of modern Christianity are free to devour widows' houses and starve the sheep of God.

Many Christians are shackled to these activities as surely as Israel was bound to the Law. In trying to do the right thing, they have failed to do the right thing. The great irony, of course, is that it is the neglect of the Word -- this one needful thing -- that has snared Christians in the law of "service". But listen to what the Bible says:

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. -- Colossians 2:8

Wherefore if you be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are you subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? -- Colossians 2:20-22

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]: -- Colossians 2:16

And He said unto them, You are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knows your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. -- Luke 16:15

For if you live after the flesh, you shall die: but if you through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, you shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but you have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. -- Romans 8:13-17

[Note that we are NOT servants as was Hagar, but children of promise as was Isaac; Galatians 4:25 says: For this Hagar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answers to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.]

O foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ has been evidently set forth, crucified among you? This only would I learn of you, Received you the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh? -- Galatians 3:1-3

But now, after that you have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn you again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto you desire again to be in bondage? -- Galatians 4:9

The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house. -- 1 Corinthians 16:19

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. -- Matthew 18:20

The word "cumbered" in Luke 10:40 is perispao (per-ee-spah'-o) (G4049) and means "to drag all around", "cumber" or "distract". If you are a distracted Martha, hear what Jesus says: "Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away". (Matthew 24:35) We need not be distracted by things that will "perish with the using", but one thing is needful.