The One Needful Thing

One of my favorite stories in the New Testament tells what happened when Jesus was visiting in the home of Mary and Martha. It goes like this: "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, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42).

What is "that good part"? What is the one needful thing? It involves sitting at the Master's feet, fellowshiping with Him, and learning His Word.

Luke paints a vivid contrast between the two sisters. Martha was busy, frustrated, worried, and quite possibly jealous. Mary, on the other hand, was peaceful and happy. What accounts for the difference? Taking time to be with Jesus. That is "the one needful thing."

Hannah Whitall Smith writes, "Die, then, that you may live. Lose your own life that you may find Christ's life. The caterpillar can only enter into the butterfly's kingdom by dying to its caterpillar life, and emerging into the resurrection life of the butterfly; and just so can we also only enter into the kingdom of God by the way of a death out of the kingdom of self, and an emergence into the resurrection life of Christ. Let everything go, then, that belongs to the natural; all your own notions, and plans, and ways, and thoughts; and accept in their stead God's plans, and ways, and thoughts. Do this faithfully and do it persistently, and you shall come at last to sit on His throne, and to reign with Him in an interior kingdom which shall break in pieces and consume all other kingdoms, and shall stand for ever and ever" (From The Christian's Secret of a Happy Life by Hannah Whitall Smith--a Pure Gold Classic published by Bridge-Logos Foundation.)