“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 10:41-42).
Many of us are like Martha, “cumbered about much serving,” and “careful and troubled about many things,” so much so that we forget or at least neglect the “one thing [that] is needful.” There are those “necessary things” which are connected with our life and welfare here on earth and which must claim our attention. Even with them we must be careful lest “the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful,” remembering that “a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth,” for when “thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?” But “that good part,” that “one thing ... needful,” chosen by Mary, “shall not be taken away.” She “sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard His word,” and “the word of the Lord endureth forever.” Do not, dear Christian, let “things” choke the Word of God in your life. “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness,” and “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you,” and all such God-provided “things are good and profitable unto men.”
“Things” loom large on the horizon
And occupy our time and strength,
But “things” will pass away someday;
Just “one thing” will abide at length.
Luke 10:40; Acts 15:28; Mark 4:19; Luke 12:15,20; 10:39; 1 Peter 1:25; 1 Tim. 6:11; Matt. 6:33; Titus 3:8.