02.07 | One Thing

Luke 10:25-11:13

‘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.” 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.”’

Luke 10:40-42

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There are few characters in the New Testament that I identify with as much as Martha. And there’s few that I need to learn from as much as Mary.

The strange thing about it is that Martha is doing what she’s supposed to be doing. A rabbi has come to their house, which is a big deal. She’s keen that the house is ready, the food is prepared, and that the hospitality at their house is said to be of a high standard. She’s doing what people expect of her. She’s avoiding the shame of being viewed as lazy. She’s wanting to put on an impressive show for Jesus and everyone else who might be watching.

Mary, on the other hand, isn’t being a good hostess at all. Not in the way their culture, or indeed any culture since, has seen it. She’s not getting drinks or snacks, not handing out canapés or napkins, not taking coats at the door or quickly hiding the laundry in a cupboard. She’s just sitting there, listening to Jesus.

When we think about it, it’s staggering that Mary is the one that Jesus commends. I’ve not sure I’ve ever yet met a person (an adult, anyway) who didn’t think that Jesus wants things—tasks and money and time—from them. Scores of people in our networks, if we asked, would assume that Jesus wants something from them. Good deeds; money; less swearing; less fun; less laughter; more effort; religion. We think He wants Martha’s.

And yet Martha’s frantic activity sets the tone of her heart. Because her heart, in Jesus’ words, has become about many things. Her compulsive serving has become her distraction. For Martha, serving Jesus has become about tasks, the opinion of her neighbours, trying to be impressive, trying not to be lazy or irreligious or improper or unkind. She’s trying so hard, and yet the atmosphere of her soul—in all this frenzy of trying—is anxious and troubled. 

Anxious. Troubled.

Two feelings that I meet far too often. 

The anxiety of being ill-prepared. Of being unimpressive. Of being not enough. 

Troubled by all the things that need to be done, all the things that people might think, all the expectations and opinions and tasks and requirements.

Jesus’ antidote is maybe the most world-transforming insight for those who, like me, find themselves anxious too much of the time.

One thing is necessary.

One thing:

Jesus.

Instead of the rushing, the trying, the doing, the keeping up:

One thing.

Instead of the tasks, the to do list, the need to perform, the need to impress:

One thing.

The life that begins in attentiveness to Him is the beginning of the free life, the non-anxious life. It is the freedom of the intimate, and the Way of the King. It is the heartbeat of the one who can pray the Lord’s prayer not as a monotonous duty, but as a trusting child. It is the way of the interruptible Samaritan, who put aside every task that day, to live from the loving face of Jesus towards this wounded man. It is the impudence of the friend, knocking the door at midnight, demanding the attention of God Himself.

Because the one who knows their one thing has also learned how greatly the Father, revealed in the attentive Jesus, is attentive to us in this very moment. Because the one who has stepped onto this path of the one thing has begun to learn that all eternity will be governed out from their immediate journey of intimacy with this Lord. Because the one who has learned this one thing is learning to cast aside all anxiety and trouble, because every task, every prayer, every hour of sleep or doing or eating or resting is absorbed into the single vision of all that we do more truly being about the One Thing. 

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Reflect:

What is causing me anxiety and leaving me troubled today?

Come and sit at Jesus’ feet. Ask Him to understand all that He is asking from you. Place everything else into His hands.

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Pray:

Father,

I ask you for your Holy Spirit today;

I ask you to invade this anxious heart,

Lifting my worries and burdens;

Showing me how greatly and ably you hold my life;

Teaching me the gentle and simple Way of Jesus.

Help me to slow down;

To lay aside my rushing and worry;

To see His face,

And to hear His voice;

That I may walk in step

With the rhythms of eternity

And that all that I do

Be the overflow

Of attentiveness at the feet

Of my non-anxious Lord.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen

Old Testament: 

For those also reading the Old Testament this year, your additional readings are here:

Isaiah 36-37 | Proverbs 17:26-28