The One Necessary Thing

Opening Comments:

Please meet me in your copy of God’s Word in Luke 10:38-42. If you are using one of our church Bibles, you will find our text on pg. 816.

I’ve titled my message this morning: “The One Necessary Thing”

This is the Word of the Lord let’s read it together.

Luke 10:38–42 ESV

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But 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.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Introduction:

The event we have just read together is another event in the life of Jesus that only appears in Luke’s Gospel. There is no real connection to the event preceding it where Jesus shared the parable of the Good Samaritan as far as the time and place goes. This is yet another example of Luke placing the narrative of Jesus life in a more topical format. The preceding parable has to do with rightly understanding God’s law and this event demonstrates for us the importance of hearing the words of Jesus. Luke does not give us the location but we know by comparing scripture with scripture that the two women mentioned along with their brother Lazarus (who is not mentioned here) , lived in the city of Bethany. Bethany was just on the outskirts of Jerusalem

From the text, it appears that Jesus was with his disciples on his way to Jerusalem perhaps for the Festival of Dedication (given this is about 4 months before Jesus death) and when they arrive at Bethany, the disciples appear to continue on to Jerusalem while Jesus remains behind. We get the impression from the text Jesus had every intention of spending some time with this family and may have even know them prior to this event.

Jesus comes into contact with Martha somewhere in the village and she invites Jesus back to her home to stay.

In v.38 we are introduced to Martha’s sister, Mary. It is these two women and there interactions we will be examining today.

Notice with me:

1.) Martha Dilema. (v.40)

Most of the details in this narrative actually focus on Martha and much of it is not negative.

A.) Her character

) She is an incredibly giving person- v.38 tells us that she invited Jesus into her house. She owned it which was uncommon for a woman in this day. It is likely she is a widow and here she is opening her home up for a meal and lodging to Jesus.

) She’s courageous- By this point in Jesus ministry it was becoming dangerous to be associated with him. The Jewish religious authorities were already plotting to kill Jesus if they got the chance. Many of his disciples had forsaken him and even his own family had rejected him. Yet, here is Martha, inviting him into her home.

) She was caring- She loved and provided for her sister Mary and a brother named Lazarus who is not mentioned here. It’s possible that he was even sickly given that Jesus would later raise him from the dead. As well she was preparing a meal for Jesus who seems to be coming fairly unannounced.

) She loved Jesus- She was deeply focused on serving him a good meal. To the point she tried to get Jesus to make her sister serve him the same way she was doing.

B.) Her problem

Martha was distracted by her serving.

Distracted- to be pulled or dragged away from a reference point. To have one’s attention directed from one thing to another

Martha was running all over the house. Cooking, cleaning, serving, getting an elaborate meal together. She wanted to hear what Jesus had to say but all of her duties kept pulling her away.

There was nothing wrong with what Martha was doing. Hospitality is a very good thing, it just wasn't the best thing at the moment. In fact, all the serving she was doing was causing her to loose sight of the joy it was to have the Lord in her home.

Every time she came into the room she became more and more upset and flustered that her sister wasn't helping until the point she became angry enough to accuse the Lord of not caring.

Luke 10:40 ESV

40 But 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.”

Martha was a lot like many christians today, so busy serving and doing stuff for Jesus that she missed the opportunity to sit at his feet. . She was so burdened with the physical stuff that she became critical of those who weren't doing what she was doing.

She wanted to give Jesus the royal treatment but she allowed her concern and distraction to turn into irritation.

2.) Martha’s Need. (v.41-42)

Luke 10:41–42 ESV

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

Jesus doesn’t harshly rebuke Martha, she wasn’t doing anything wrong. She was just not focused on what was the most needed.

He even acknowledges her efforts by telling her she was focused on “many things” but he contrast it with the one thing she needed to be focused on.

What was that one necessary thing that Mary choose and Martha didn't?

Luke 10:39 (ESV)

…Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

Martha’s mistake was that she didn't do what Mary did. She let the “many things” distract her from devotion to the one who mattered most.

The one thing that was needed, was for her to sit and listen to the Word of God.

This is the highest priority for anyone who calls themselves a christian. To hear God’s word. It is far too common and easy to let our service to Christ drag us away from his word.

Especially if you are someone like Martha who gives so much time and interest into serving others that it dominates your life and leaves you little time to let God’s Word speak to you. You’re busy doing a good thing but neglecting the best thing.

You have gotten your priorities out of line.

Have you ever noticed that priorities don’t align themselves? If we don’t put them in their rightful place then we become dominated by the tyranny of the urgent. We have to make sitting a Jesus feet the top priority or the stuff of life will take over and push him to the side.

Conclusion:

Our devotion to Christ has to be a daily event.

Luke 9:23 ESV

23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

That means we need to make time spent in God’s word a daily experience. Every single person who calls themselves a believer needs to have time set aside every day where they have what is often called “daily devotions”. A time set aside every day when you get alone with God, sit at his feet and seek Him through his word and prayer.

Let me give you some very practical tips for how to incorporate this into your life:

Set a specific time each day to read the Bible and pray. Creating a routine will help you prioritize your spiritual life.

Wake up 15 mins earlier each day.

Disconnect from electronics 15 minutes earlier before bed.

Spend half that time reading God’s word and the other half praying.

If that doesn’t work, use your lunch break at work.

2. Have a dedicated place where you meet God daily.

3. Join a small group so you can study deeper with fellow christians.

4. Pick someone to keep you accountable.

5. Use a pen and paper and write down any questions you may have regarding what you have read and ask someone to help you find the answer.

6. Respond to what you’ve read in prayer.