ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDED
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to be attentive to Your still, small voice.
Read Luke 10:38–42
At the Home of Martha and Mary
38 As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[a] Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”
Footnotes:
a Luke 10:42 Some manuscripts but only one thing is needed
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Mary and Martha each made a choice of how they would demonstrate their love and care of Jesus. In what ways was Mary’s “the better way”?After a tough time on the road, this is a chance for some rest and recovery with old friends. This is a place of welcome and hospitality. While Martha prepares food, Mary spends time listening to Jesus. But Martha is frustrated by Mary’s indolence, complaining that she is left to do all the work. This story can easily make us feel forced to choose between being practical or spiritual.
Life can seem very cluttered. Meetings, journeys, relationships, objectives and obligations—the list is endless. But where is Jesus asking us to focus? What is the one thing we need to do?
Some scholars have seen a subversive message in this passage: women also can sit at Jesus’ feet and be his disciples. Male rabbis only had male disciples. In a religiously male world where men had a monopoly on prayer and theology, Jesus is commending Mary, who is breaking through the glass ceiling, for choosing the better part (42).
Apply
Are you “worried and upset about many things” (41)? Jesus tells Martha, “Few things are needed” (42). Will you choose what is truly needed?
Closing prayer
Lord, help me to always respond to Your call.
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2024 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.