One necessary thing

Scripture: Luke 10:42

 Sermon notes

The Saviour and His disciples pay a visit to the private home of Lazarus, Martha and Mary in Bethany. The home became a place of communion and fellowship with Christ. This passage is an example of the blessings that can be enjoyed at home; and the dangers that threatened it within the home.

Fellowship with Christ is never free from threat and discord. Martha’s domestic concerns prevented her from having what Mary enjoyed and led to her acting so as to rob Mary of blessed time with Christ. Further, she interrupts the Saviour’s teaching to ask for help with the dishes!!

The lessons that we may learn from this passage will help us enjoy the company of Christ at home and everywhere else.

I THE ONE THING THAT IS TRULY NECESSARY.

1. The necessary thing defined. It is described in v39. There are two elements to it:
2. Sitting at Jesus feet. This action spoke volumes! Here is the simple humility and submission of a loving servant. To sit here is to take a low place. Mary is found in this place on other occasions, John 11:32, 12:3. Cp Is 52:7, 8:35. By sitting down Mary also indicated that she was spending time here.
3. Hearing His word. Mary was listening in this position. She was learning from the Saviour. Cp Deut 33:3, Prov 8:34.
4. Paramount importance. The Saviour speaks in absolute terms. While what Martha was occupied with was relatively important, it was not absolutely important. In that sense there is only one thing that is truly a necessity. Cp Matt 6:33. We must allow the Saviour to define our needs and must then allow nothing to get in the way of this communion with Christ. Cp Ps 27:4, Job 23:12.
5. An opportunity not to be missed. When the Saviour comes by to meet with us nothing is of greater importance than that we devote ourselves to time with Him. Those times of worship which He has required us to set apart for Him are to be carefully guarded. The teaching of God’s word in regard to the Sabbath day is particularly relevant. The worship of God was a greater priority than the activities of other days which were laid aside.

II THAT GOOD PART CHOSEN.

1. It was a good part. 
2. It was good in the eyes of the Lord. This was morally the right thing to choose. It pleased the Saviour to see Mary act like this! Cp Ps 147:10-11, Mal 3:16-17.
3. It was good in the sense of beneficial. Here was the best thing for Mary, her greatest good. Cp Ps 16:5-6, Micah 2:7.
4. She had made a deliberate choice. It was the choice of what Christ saw as good. Her mind, will, volition was in line with that of Christ. This was the part or portion in life that she wanted. To enjoy God’s best inevitably means such a choice made continuously. The benefit referred to here is attached to her own choice. Cp Ps 1:1-3

III NOT TAKEN AWAY.

1. An attack. It is clear that Martha’s attitude and words are to be regarded as an attack on Mary’s fellowship with Christ. She had missed it herself and was now taking it from her sister! We can lose this blessing to sources we might never suspect of threatening us. Sadly, we can become a Martha in this matter—consumed with other things and ready to rob others of blessing.
2. The Saviour’s defence of Mary, v41-42. He comes to her defence. Mary says nothing! The Lord is ready and able to act in our behalf to preserve our experience of blessing. It is His purpose to preserve this experience for us. It became part of his teaching of Mary, part of the good she enjoyed from Him, to rebuke Martha’s sin.
3. So long as we choose this good thing we will never lose its benefit. Here is how to secure the blessing of fellowship with Christ and enjoy His protective action. Sadly, we can turn away from such a deliberate choice. Cp Ps 81:13-16.