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The One Thing That Is Needful…

If you ever listened to or sang children’s songs as a child, you may remember a song, part of which is: “Gentle Jesus meek and mild…”

It will therefore come as a surprise to you to read what Jesus said to a woman called Martha, when she was stressed out cooking for and serving Jesus and his disciples while her sister Mary, sat lazily at the feet of Jesus listening to His teaching. ““Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed…” 

Was Jesus for whom Martha was exerting herself, uncharitable, ungracious, or unkind? Or was He in fact being kind to her by pointing her to what really mattered, what counted in the grand scheme of things?

In all honesty, if you were asked to recount a situation that stressed you out or annoyed you to distraction such that you could not focus on anything of lasting value, could you remember from five years ago? Two years ago? A year ago? Even a month ago? Or a week ago? 

The message of Jesus to Martha was to encourage and guide a shift in perspective, from the daily stresses to what really matters.

Make sure that your decisions and actions have lasting value because they have eternal consequences.

This world is noisy. The competing demands of school, work, job opportunities, entertainment, relationships, and the anxieties and worries engendered by society’s expectations – this cacophony drowns everything else.

But the wise, prudent and discerning must recognise that there must be some meaning and purpose to life, and it is not found in the noise, but in the recognition that priorities matter, and the first of the priorities is a firm tread on the path of a purposeful life. 

Proverbs 4:26 reads: “Ponder the path of your feet and let all your ways be established.”

How does one achieve this instruction? 

First, you must accept that you were created by God, and it does not matter how you were conceived and brought into the world. With that acceptance, you must recognise that there is a purpose for your birth, and your continued existence despite your many close shaves with death.

If you accept the two premises, it should be pleasant news to you, to know that God never intended to push you into the world to figure things out for yourself. He has a plan for you to live a fulfilled life that counts. 

That plan is found in His Word; therefore the way to take those firm steps that lead you into purpose and significance is your acceptance and submission to the Word of God. 

Everything, however important it appears today, is for a season. Only the word of God that existed before you were born, and will surely remain after your death, has the proven track record of permanence. 

Read the Bible, seek His will. Talk with people who have trained in it. Fellowship with believers, and make it your one aim to live and abide by its demands and truth.

Only the word of God is needful. Choose to find out what it says about God, about others and about you. Do this, and you cannot lose your way on the journey to a meaningful and purposeful life.

Luke 10:41-42; Proverbs 4:26

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