At the end of 2022, I listened to a few podcasts that were reflecting on the year that gone by, particularly focusing on being grateful even if the year had been difficult. Later, writing my own gratitude list for 2022, I saw there was a lot to be thankful for and to celebrate, even if some desires went unmet. Amongst the more obvious things to be thankful for, was a revelation that God had continually spoken into my heart during some of the hardest moments in my year. This truth was that ‘One thing is needed’. 

I found this truth would be the words that Holy Spirit whispered into my soul when I felt most in need, when I was crying out to God with what seemed like unanswered prayers. Yet really he was answering me, it just wasn’t in the way that I wanted. But what does ‘One thing is needed’ really mean? I began to explore this truth with God in scripture. 

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:38-41 NIV

This passage is probably one you are quite familiar with, Jesus is visiting the home of Martha, and whilst she is busy and distracted with all that needs to be done, her sister, Mary sits humbly and attentively at the feet of Jesus, listening to all he has to say. When reading this passage, I have always had sympathy with Martha, I’m more naturally a ‘do-er’ and Mary getting away with not helping out didn’t seem all that fair to me.

But Mary has grasped something beyond what myself and Martha originally perceived. Our values were misaligned. Mary truly has chosen what is better. She sits in humble adoration, close at the feet of her teacher, ready to listen and absorb all he has to say. She knows she cannot live by bread alone but only by every word that comes from the mouth of the Son of God (Matthew 4:4). So she sits at his feet, waiting and attentive, letting everyone else around her be distracted by less worthy things, but she will not be disturbed.

Verse 42 actually has two translation options in the NIV, the one stated above but using the translation in the footnotes, verse 41-42 would read “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,but only one thing is needed.” These words come straight from the lips of Jesus. This is his value system. Only one thing is needed. How many things do we want? How many things do we feel we can’t live without? Do we really value drawing near to Jesus above everything else? 

How much time do I spend desiring earthly things of little eternal value? Relationship with God is the one thing I will carry with me into eternity. I will continue to know him forevermore, eternal life is to know him (John 17:3). But these other worldly desires and fleshly needs truly matter little and carry no eternal weight. Most of them will be forgotten, even by myself, in a very short space of time. 

Yet like Martha, the petty things distract me, consuming my time and focus day after day and really that still can be the case now, after all God shown me on this topic. It is habitual, it feels most natural and easy for me to focus on these things more than Jesus, like it is the path of least resistance. To actually live all my days within the truth of ‘only one thing is needed’ isn’t something I have mastered or figured out yet, but I am letting this truth challenge me. 

But it is when we choose to sit like Mary at the feet of Jesus, in that place of intimacy, positioned to gaze upon him – that is where we will not only receive the revelation that he is all we need, but it will also begin to infuse into how we live our daily lives. It isn’t enough to know ‘about’ God, this kind of revelation comes from knowing him intimately, like Mary sat closely at his feet. Only in a personal, face-to-face relationship does Jesus become enough for you. Living off second hand revelation will always leave you hungry.

I will keep exploring this theme of only ‘One thing is needed’ over the coming weeks/months as there is too much to say for one post! Hope you’ve enjoyed reading – let me know if you have! Leave a comment and follow my blog if you haven’t already x