One Thing Needful

THE ONE THING NEEDFUL

THE WORD OF GOD

Introduction

There is only one solution to the problems of life.

There is only one way to live.

Jesus said concerning Mary the sister of Martha: “ But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:42)

On another occasion He quoted: “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4)

THE WORD OF GOD - HIS MANUAL FOR SUCCESFUL LIVING

The Word of God, the Bible, is our manual for life. It is always advisable to read the manual. If you do then you will know what to do when things don’t seem to be going the way you feel that they should. The answer to every problem, and also to every possibility is found in the Word of God.

The scriptures are called the Word of life:

“Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.” (Philippians 2:16)

Paul tells us that it is through preaching that people hear about God and make their decision about Him. He even tells us that in the natural preaching is foolishness. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (1 Corinthians 1:26)

However, in the spiritual sense, preaching is a very high calling. The world may think of it as foolishness, but it is one of very few methods used where people can hear about the things of God and respond. For this reason it is imperative that a preacher remembers what his solemn duty is: He must uplift Christ. Paul said that he was very careful to preach only Christ and His death at the cross. C.H.Spurgeon reminded his students: “Preach nothing up but Christ: preach nothing down but the devil.”

When people surrender to the claims of the Word of God there is real joy in heaven. Why? Because the salvation of a human being is God’s highest priority. He wants to enter into covenant with people, and He can only do so when a person is born again into His family. The new life in a believer proves that Jesus did not come in vain.

The Word of God says many things about itself and gives many titles to show us how important it is:

THE BOOK

“Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me, I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:7)

“And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” (Revelation 22:19)

It is called THE BOOK as if there were no other. We may read books (you are reading one now) but nothing should take the place of the Word of God. It has to have pre-eminence over all other reading material. It has to have pre-eminence over every other source of information. I know how much time I can use reading a newspaper. Sometimes it does me no good at all. However, every time I read the Bible, if I am open to the Spirit of God, I will receive something good.

THE BOOK OF THE LORD

“Seek ye out of the book of the Lord, and read: no one of these shall fail, none shall want her mate: for my mouth it hath commanded, and his spirit it hath gathered them.” (Isaiah 34:16)

It is called the book of the Lord because it is superior to His name. “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” (Psalm 138:2)

God’s name is holy. It is powerful. However, it is not as important as His Word because it does not convey everything that God is, and what He thinks. However, His Word does tell us everything we need to know about Him.

THE BOOK OF THE LAW

“And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.” (Nehemiah 8:3)

“For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.” (Galatians 3:10)