Learning Again About the One That is Necessary

A Pew Research survey from several years ago revealed that six in ten adults in the U.S. sometimes feel too busy to enjoy life. More recently, that same percentage of respondents stated "there are not enough hours in the day" to complete the tasks they believe they must. While some have called this an 'epidemic of busyness', still others, interestingly, wear it as a badge of honor, equating being busy with being important or valuable. And though the adverse effects of our busyness are clear (on both our physical and mental health, not to mention our relationships), there is no sign the pace is letting up.

But Jesus has good news for the busy. One of his ancient conversations (in this case, with a busy hostess) can serve as a powerful corrective and comfort for our modern mindset. 

Let me set the scene: Jesus and his disciples have made a surprise visit to the village of Bethany (about two miles east of Jerusalem) and have been welcomed by a woman named Martha, along with her sister, Mary. But as Martha works tirelessly to play hostess to her (at least) thirteen unexpected guests, she is growing frustrated with her seemingly distracted sister. Here's how the Gospel of Luke describes the scene:

And [Martha] had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 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.” (10:39-40)

How interesting that though her sister would label Mary as the one not focused on what she should be doing, Luke describes Martha as the "distracted" sibling. I believe he does so because of how Jesus responds in the next two verses. Please don't miss what Jesus communicates in Luke 10:41-42...

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

Did you hear it? Did you hear good news for the busy? Though Martha was convinced that her hospitality was absolutely necessary, and that her sister's help was absolutely necessary, and that now (given the situation), the Lord's intervention was absolutely necessary, Jesus reveals to her that only "one thing is necessary". What was that one thing? It was the "good portion" that "Mary [had] chosen", which according to verse 39, meant sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening to his teaching. 

Jesus knows that a lot of us are just like Martha: "anxious and troubled about many things". And while some may use busyness as a way to avoid problematic relationships or even personal reflection, others sincerely believe their busyness is the inescapable result of too many necessary things. But please, again, hear the words of Jesus to the heart weighed down by busyness: just "one thing is necessary" (v. 42) 

Okay. It's important to clarify at this point. Jesus is helping us here with our priorities, not downplaying or disparaging or dismissing our duties. There are, of course, many things in this life that we should do. Even things we must do. But none of that changes what is ultimately necessary. Martha's hospitality was a good thing. But in the presence of an ultimate thing, in the presence of Jesus, her priorities were revealed to be misplaced. 

But again, this is good news. Why? Because Jesus Christ graciously helps us to cut through our cluttered schedules and our cluttered hearts, and to see the one thing that is ultimately necessary: to daily sit at his feet and listen to his voice. When we give priority (not just lip service) to prayer and the word of God, and to regularly 'practicing his presence', we will find that, unlike Martha, we are less "anxious and troubled", even when our days still feel full. How does this Christ-focused position and posture change things? By giving us perspective on what truly matters, and as a result, helping us say "no" to unhealthy busyness. But even more than that, regularly sitting at Jesus' feet and listening to his voice means enjoying true, gospel rest. So often, deep down, our busyness is driven by wanting to get something, or keep something, or achieve something, or even prove something to myself or others. But because of Jesus, because of his death and resurrection for busy sinners like us, all of these motives have been undercut. When it comes to what is ultimately necessary, Christ has done everything we couldn't do, but desperately needed. For our sake, He got and kept and achieved and proved everything that truly matters when it comes to God and eternity. Therefore, we are now called to come in faith, and to rest in faith, knowing the eternally necessary thing is done. Thank God for such good news from Jesus, in light of the Good News about Jesus.