ONLY ONE THING
Jonathan Mbirfrom KOG Int
“Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at [k]Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.””
Martha welcomed Jesus into her home, but Mary gave Him her attention. While one sister prepared to serve Him, the other sat at His feet to hear Him. Both were in the same house, yet their attention was occupied differently. Martha’s hospitality was good; the problem was that her serving became a distraction from the very Lord she welcomed in. We, too, can fill our lives with activities supposedly surrounding Jesus while giving little attention to what that same Jesus is actually saying with His word.
Luke tells us that Martha was distracted by much serving. Her responsibilities pulled her attention in different directions until she became resentment and even frustrated: “Doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work?” This is what can happen when service loses its foundation in fellowship with Christ. When you pay attention to Jesus' response, you know she absolutely got it twisted and many believers do this so often. We begin by wanting to honour Him, then become consumed with the activity and actually even drift from what His word says ...all the while pursuing the activity supposed to be honoring Him. When our work for Jesus crowds out listening to Jesus, even sincere service can becomes a breeding ground for frustration.
Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha,” addressing her personally before correcting her priorities. We need to hear the Lord calling out our names personally as well. He saw her anxiety beneath her activity. She even got offended at Mary. She thought she was right and Mary-the one with full attention on the word-was wrong. Martha was so wrong. His words reach into our church programmes, committee meetings, rehearsals, conferences, and ministry schedules, it reaches into our opinions and thought patterns: we can be occupied with many seemingly worthwhile things while neglecting what gives them meaning and grounding-His word in its proper revelation. A full calendar does not necessarily reveal a heart attentive to God. We must examine whether our activity flows from obedience to Christ or merely from pressure, habit, and the need to feel useful. They are not the same and the former is rooted in consistent, unwavering attentiveness to the proper teaching of His word.
Mary had chosen the good portion: she sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to His teaching. This was the posture of a disciple receiving instruction from her Master. Jesus defended her place there. Before she could offer Him anything, she needed to receive from Him. That is how we ought to be-thats what many do not get. We need more than just a passing contact with Scripture inbetween responsibilities; we need sustained attention, teachable hearts, and a willingness to let His word and truth get into us, correct us and direct us. The Lord’s word deserves more than whatever attention remains after everything else has claimed us. Rather the opposite. It is the first.
Yet listening to Jesus includes responding to what He says. In Luke 6:46, He asks why people call Him Lord while failing to do what He commands. James 1:22 likewise calls us to practise the Word we hear. We cannot claim Mary’s posture while refusing Christ’s instruction. Listening must reach our conduct: being studious with His word, growing in the things of the Spirit, forgiving those who offend us, abandoning cherished sin, loving our neighbours, speaking truth, and obeying when obedience is costly. The evidence that His word has our attention is that His authority increasingly shapes and dictates our lives.
Jesus’ correction does not make practical service unimportant. Immediately before this account, the parable of the Good Samaritan ends with a command to act mercifully: “Go, and do thou likewise” (Luke 10:37). The same Lord who commends attentive listening commands active love. His word establishes the priorities and character of our service. We sit at His feet, first and foremost, with seriousness-studying, imbibing His word. So that we can rise and follow Him more accurately and faithfully. Christian service flourishes when the servant remains attentive to the word of the Master not just doing service for the sake of service but as the product of the fellowship with His revealed word. That is a different kind of service-the kind the Lord delights in.
Only one thing is necessary: to receive the Lord’s word with teachability and humility, and strive to do or become the word in action. Let every ministry, responsibility, and ambition come under that priority. Open the Scriptures with a readiness to be changed and transformed. Make room to listen, then act on what He has said. Jesus promised that Mary’s chosen portion would not be taken from her; fellowship with Him has a value that outlasts every passing demand. Give Jesus your full attention through His word. Get taught and be raised up properly as a believer. Let His word govern your activity and put everything entrusted to you beneath His Lordship.