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ND Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42)
What was this ONE THING that is NEEDFUL? Our Lord was speaking to Martha who was envious of her sister, Mary. Why? It is because Martha was doing all the work in preparing the meal for the guests while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus to hear Him. At the heart of the issue is the matter of triage of the spirit. The most egregious disease of the soul is sin, but the only wholesome cure for that disease is faith in God and His Word. Mary was enraptured at the teaching of Jesus, and hearing those powerful words of our Lord was far more important than providing sustenance for the physical body. Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) Our Lord desires to see us faithful in both study and attending to His Word.
You will recall when our Lord was teaching in the Temple, His mother and brothers came to see Him. They did not enter into the place of His teaching, but waited outside and sent a messenger to draw Him out to them. How did our Lord respond to that action? 46 ¶While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
You may have heard the old adage: Blood is thicker than water, which comes from an ancient English proverb meaning that familial bonds will always be stronger than other relationships. The Words of Christ are not a denial of that principle, but rather an advocate of it. The blood of Christ unites us in One body far more than any mortal blood can ever do. Our relationship in Christ is far more binding than that of parent, brother, sister, or other family. Those who hear, receive, and believe His Word is far more family to us than our mortal family on earth.
We must seek the Word and secret it in the tender chamber of our hearts. I must add, however, that merely hearing is not enough. We must believe in faith, and that faith will result in action.
Remember the Rich Young Ruler who came to Christ in the right way – He came running! He kneeled to Him! But he addressed Him as Good Master (Teacher) – not Lord. He seems to have been an upstanding young man with sound morals, but he, too, lacked that ONE THING necessary for salvation – all else looked good in him, but lacking that ONE THING would forfeit eternal life for the young man. He was obviously wealthy, and he believed he had kept the Commandments from his youth, but his intercourse with Christ revealed that the young man had not even kept the first Commandment: Thou shalt have none other gods before Me. (Deuteronomy 5:7) Was it the young man’s wealth that stood between him and eternal life? No, but it was rather the LOVE of wealth more than the LOVE of God that separated him from being made whole in body and soul.
The love of riches was this young man’s god. That love eclipsed the Light of the Sun of righteousness (Jesus Christ) from his view and he went away in the same manner he had come – in darkness. It is difficult for the rich to enter heaven – not because the possession of wealth is evil, but because of the way in which wealth can distract many hearts from the most important thing – salvation in Christ.
It was not the young man’s wealth that Christ found lacking, but the fact that even in hearing the Word of God, he was unchanged thereby to open His heart to that Bright Light of Love which engenders faith and salvation by God’s unmerited grace.
