One Thing

"They" say that you can tell alot about a person's priorities by how they spend their time and money...(I say why do "they" care about how I spend my time or money as neither belongs to them.)...but let's see what Jesus had to say about that.

Do you know the story of Mary and Martha? This Bible story cuts to the heart of priorities...where we invest our time and our motivation behind the investment.

"Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10: 38-42

Martha spent her time worried about housekeeping. While Mary sat at Jesus' feet more concerned about heartkeeping. The Bible says that Martha was distracted. And Jesus said she was anxious and troubled.

Don't get me wrong...serving and providing food for her guests was a good thing...but when it became the most important thing...it became a problem. Matters of her house...took precedence over those of her heart...which in turn made her anxious and worried.

The distractions pulled her focus away from Jesus. The Word made flesh was sitting in her living room yet she was overcome by worldly busyness...so much so that her heart was cluttered and anxious with worldly duties...to the point that she completely overlooked her true duties...those to the Word...those to Christ.

Can you relate to Martha? I know there are sure times when I am guilty of pulling a Martha.

As our to-do lists grow longer and longer...we tend to sacrifice being in the presence of God in order to check items off those lists. We also tend to get caught up in the details of everyday living and familial responsibilities... never pausing long enough to let the Word nourish us.

Jesus said to Martha that only one thing is necessary. David had this to say about that "one thing" in Psalm 27:4...."One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple."

There are lots of things we can do in our day. Some of those things can be really important...life or death things...but nothing, not even good things, should interfere with our relationship and quality time with God.

"Only one thing is necessary." All the other things that we think are so important just fade away in the presence of God's glory.

And the truth of the matter is...when God provides the motive...He also supplies the means...which includes the mind, the minutes, and the moolah! So spending time with God won't cut into our busy schedules.

No...my sisters and brothers...lack is not an issue for our God. Not of time. Not of money. Not of anything. Nothing will prevent Him from completing his purposes in and through us. When we remember that He is the "one thing [that] is necessary"...our priorities never get out of order.