Only One Thing

Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:40-42

Boy, does this sound familiar. Ugh! I have muttered a variation of Martha’s words when I’ve been preparing a big dinner. I did not say them directly to Jesus, but I might as well have been talking to Him. Like Martha, I get worried and upset over a lot of details too!

Let’s be honest. What woman hasn’t had “Martha moments” from time to time, when she feels she has taken on more than she can manage?

Jesus responds quickly: “My dear Martha, my dear Kim, my dear sweet you, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Only one thing is needed, and that is connecting with the Lord Himself. Sweet Martha was distracted in the details, while Sweet Mary got the “only one thing” right: focusing on Jesus. As the old hymn says, we need to “turn our eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

When we pause to focus on Jesus first, He either eases our stressed-out spirits or changes our attitudes in the circumstances that threaten to undo us. He wants us to pause in His presence and be mindful of who He is and the amazing things He has done for us. I know that sounds counterproductive, even a misuse of time when we are in a tizzy. Truthfully, He is just what we need to adjust our priorities and be able to encourage others around us.

Let’s be concerned about one thing—the Lord! Clear a space on your refrigerator and stick a note up there that says, “One thing!”