One Thing

One thing...

I’ve been hearing the Lord whisper those two words to my spirit a lot lately. Mary of Bethany knew that one thing and it was not taken from her. Mary was helping her sister prepare for guests, but when Jesus stepped inside the home, she left an important thing for the most important thing. The one thing. When Martha brought up her concern that Mary had left her to work alone, Jesus said:

“One thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

One thing is needed. 

Another version says:

“Only one thing is necessary.”

Martha did well to welcome Jesus into her home, but even though the Messiah was in her presence, she wasn’t enjoying His presence because of the distractions around her. 

Martha was distracted with good and important work, but those things kept her from the most important thing. Mary knew how to drop important things for the most important one thing. She knew the importance of sitting at her Master’s feet. When Jesus entered the room, everything else could wait. 

Mary understood that time with Jesus is never wasted. It’s an eternal work and it will never be taken away from us. More can be accomplished in a few moments in His presence than days of our own striving. 

David, too knew that one thing and cried out for it in Psalm 27:4

“One thing I have desired of the Lord,
That will I seek:
That I may dwell in the house of the Lord
All the days of my life,
To behold the beauty of the Lord,
And to inquire in His temple.”

All the other things in our lives will fall in their right place and space when we go after the one thing. Time in the presence of Jesus sitting at His feet is that most important one thing. David desired the Lord more than anything and he was determined to seek His presence and behold His beauty above all else. 

In Psalm 63:1, David again speaks about his one desire:

“O God, You are my God;
Early will I seek You;
My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You
In a dry and thirsty land
Where there is no water.”

I love how David always writes about God in a personal way... “You are my God, The Lord is my Shepherd, The Lord is my light and my salvation, The Lord is my rock and my fortress...” 

I believe it is wise to seek God first thing in the morning every day. He knows what our day holds and He is the One who orders our steps, so let’s seek His face first before the distractions have a chance to steal away our attention. 

Matthew 6:33 echoes what was in the hearts of David and Mary:  “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”

All other things must bow to the one thing. 

Jesus was once confronted by a man known as the rich young ruler. 

“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.”

The rich young ruler walked away sorrowful upon hearing Jesus’ words for he had great possessions. The thought of trading in his earthly riches for a cross was not appealing to him. He missed the point, it wasn’t about what he was giving up, but about what he was gaining. When Jesus becomes our one thing, our all in all, we see everything else as we should in comparison with Him. When we allow ourselves to gaze into His eyes of fire, that fire will consume away everything that doesn’t belong. 

Wealth and possessions distracted the young ruler from seeing the greatest Treasure standing right in front of him, but Jesus looked at this wealthy young man with deep love and compassion. 

Jesus knew the one thing that was keeping the young ruler from the most important One Thing. Jesus looked at Martha and this young man with love and desire to persuade them to choose Him over earthly things. Only He could satisfy their longing souls. 

He knows what keeps us from seeking and following Him too. He will reveal whatever hinders our relationship with Him in order to draw us closer to Him. He knows that He is our greatest need. May we desire and seek Him first, May all the distractions fade away as we gaze into His beautiful eyes of fire. May time in His presence be the most important one thing in our lives. 

Willing Hands

While reading about the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31, I noticed the word “hands” is mentioned at least five times. The virtuous woman willingly works with her hands, she reaches out to the needy with her hands. She plants and receives the fruit of her hands.  

It matters what we do with our hands whether it’s lifting the head of an upset child or washing dishes for the third time in a single day or lifting them up to worship the Lord. The Lord sees it all and delights in every detail of our lives. He sees all and He establishes the work of our hands. 

Last year I had the privilege of sitting with my grandmother during her last days on earth and I enjoyed listening to my mother and great aunt as they shared stories of my grandmother’s life. I tried to soak up every word they spoke and every memory they shared as we sat by her bedside. My great aunt told me how their grandmother would hold and look at their hands and say “child, what will these little hands have to go through in this life?” I watched my wonderful and faithful mother honor and take care of her mother day and night. With her hands my mom fed her, clothed her and comforted her as she caressed her head and held her hand. During my grandmother’s life, those small yet strong hands of hers hugged and comforted, held and rocked grandchildren and great grandchildren, wiped away tears, prepared meals, made the most beautiful bows for wreaths and presents, planted all kinds of flowers, blew kisses, clapped and rejoiced, and much more. My mother held her hand until she reached for the hand of Jesus. How precious, my grandmother was there for my mother’s first breath and my mother was there for her last breath on this earth. 

My grandmother is no longer on this earth, but the flowers she planted continue to bloom, the notes and letters she wrote continue to inspire. The bird houses that filled her yard continue to provide shelter for birds. The work of my grandmother’s hands are still evident today. Our prayers, our love and the work of our hands are never in vain.

Proverbs 31 tells us that the virtuous woman has willing hands. Willing hands that put down the less important for the most important. Willing hands that pick up her Bible for direction and peace instead of her phone. Willing to do the hard work that rewards her whole family. Willing to hold the hand of a dying loved one because she knows death is never final, it’s only the beginning of eternal life. Willing to serve her family and strangers alike. Willing to worship the Lord with her whole heart. Willing to unclench and empty her hands of worries and fears because she safely trusts in the One who holds her in His hands. 

She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands. 

Proverbs 31:13

And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, And establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands.

Psalm 90:17

My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8

He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. Colossians 1:17