One thing is needed
12th March 2023
Mary … sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said …
“few things are needed – or indeed only one.
Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:39, 42 (NIV)
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
One Thing Is Needed
I can still remember one of our children arguing that they couldn’t go to bed yet because they were reading their Bible! I’m still pretty sure it was a ruse to avoid going to bed. But what if it was genuine? What if they genuinely wanted nothing more than to listen to the Lord? I’m bound to say, I would have been more convinced if I had seen them poring over the Scriptures at other times of day!
The thing is, they would have had the Lord on their side! I still find it hard to believe that Jesus says what he does here. Surely he is interested in people serving others? Isn’t that what he came to do himself? Surely he would take Martha’s side? There she was, anxious about all that had to be done now that Jesus and his disciples had come to stay. There was food to prepare, beds to be made, and so on.
And what was her sister doing? Mary “sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said.” And what does Jesus do? Surely he says, “Mary, why don’t you go and give your sister a hand? We can do this later.” But no. Jesus commends her for it! And we shouldn’t miss the fact that he is the one doing the teaching that she is listening to. He really approves!
Now, do we believe what Jesus says here, that this is the one thing needed, that Mary has chosen what is better, that there is nothing more important than to sit at Jesus’ feet and listen to what he says? ‘Sitting at his feet’ suggests an attitude of humility – eager to learn, to absorb and to obey. That he is called ‘the Lord’ indicates his authority, that he is to be listened to.
Of course, if we truly listen to what the Lord has to say, it will not stop with that. It will lead us to do all sorts of other things: to worship the same Lord, to repent of our sins, to love others deeply – even to serve them wholeheartedly – to witness to unbelievers, and more. But it all starts with sitting at his feet and listening to what he says.
If we do not start with listening to what the Lord says, we will start by listening to what someone else says – whether that is our own hearts, the wisdom of the world around us, or even the voice of the evil one. And that will only lead us to do what is less than the best, and at worst what is genuinely bad and damaging.
So let it be our goal to pursue ‘the one thing needed’ and to listen humbly and attentively to what the Lord says to us in his word. And for that to be our goal when we gather as ‘big church’ on Sundays, or as ‘little church’ in our various small groups, or sitting on our own before the Lord at home.
Lord, teach us to listen to you, and to choose what is best, the one thing needed. Amen.
Yours warmly, in Christ,
Chris Hobbs (Senior Minister)