“ONE THING IS NEEDED” (Outline)
February 12, 2023 – Epiphany 6 – LUKE 10:38-42
INTRO: “ONE THING IS NEEDED”. The Bible has examples of those who knew the importance of holding fast to God’s Word. Mary, mother of Jesus, gave birth to her son. Shepherds come to see the Savior. They spoke with Mary. Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart. Following worship at the temple in Jerusalem. Mary, again, treasured God’s words and pondered them in her heart. Paul praised the Bereans for searching out the one thing needed. “Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians. They received the word very eagerly and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these things were so” (ACTS 17:11). To search the Scriptures meant going to temple. Waiting for the scrolls to be brought out. Rolled open. Read. Took extra effort compared to us today. “ONE THING IS NEEDED”. I. There are so many distractions. II. There is only one real Attraction.
I. WE FACE SO MANY DISTRACTIONS.
A. Verse 38. Martha invited Jesus and his disciples into her home. Act of Christian love, generosity.
1. This invitation was an act of faith on the part of Martha.
2. Only faith would show itself in action: Love of God. Generous spirit.
B. Verse 40. “Martha was distracted with all her serving.” This was a large crowd. At least 13 men.
1. She challenged Jesus: “Don’t you care…” Martha was at the end of her rope.
2. Mary was not helping with anything. First a challenge then an order: “Tell her to help me.”
3. A woman confronting a man was not considered acceptable social behavior.
C. Verse 41. Jesus politely reminded Martha that she is “worried and upset about many things.”
1. Worry was an inner emotion. What to do no next? How will I be able to do everything?
2. Upset was an outward action. Questioned Jesus’ care. Ordered Jesus to act.
D. Jesus did not scold Martha. We ought not to think any less of her either. For the moment for her there were too many distractions to remember the one thing needed. We have just as many, if not more. distractions in our lives today. Our world promotes worry. Our world lashes out with anger rather than listening. All too easily worry and anger sneaks into our lives. Our words. Our actions. And there are still more distractions. “Still others are sown among the thorns. These are the ones who hear the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth and desires for other things enter in and choke the word, so it becomes unfruitful” (MARK 4:18, 19). Have we or are we worried about our lives? The deceitfulness of wealth adds to our worrying. When or do have enough money for…? Of course, how often our sinful nature desires the things of this world! All these things choke the word. So many distractions.
E. How true when the Lord reminds that godliness with contentment is great gain. Contentment in this life is a fruit of faith. Only godliness, faithfulness diverts the distractions that infiltrate our lives. Our very souls. Let the world chase after wealth. Possessions. Honor. Glory. Fame. “After all, what will it benefit a person if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul? Or what can a person give in exchange for his soul?” (MATTHEW 16:26). Nothing in this life or in this world can be exchanged for our souls. In the midst of so many distractions we know the Truth. Contentment God’s gift to us children of God.
F. How do we overcome the distractions of our sinful nature? We are not left to do this on our own. The Lord Jesus reminds that really only one thing is needed. We seek the Lord. Discover his answers. Provided his strength. Power to overcome. We pray to our loving, heavenly Father. Any time. Any place. Always. “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you” (1 PETER 5:7). The Lord CARES for us. Far more than our earthly families. God’s loving care for us is perfectly perfect always.
“ONE THING IS NEEDED”. We face many distractions. So many distractions.
II. WE HAVE ONLY ONE REAL ATTRACTION.
A. Jesus and his disciples were enjoying a special time together. Were together in a private setting.
1. Verse 39. Mary and Martha sisters. Had a brother Lazarus. Close friends with Jesus.
2. Martha was distracted by many things. Mary sat on the floor. Listened to words of Jesus.
B. Verse 41, 42a. “Martha, Martha you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is needed.”
1. Jesus calmed Martha. Reminded her to think about the one thing needed.
2. The serving, the food, the guests were all distractions. Jesus was the only, real attraction.
C. Verse 42. “Mary has chosen the better part…” Mary did not think about Martha’s busy ness.
1. Here was Jesus. Son of God. She knew she needed to listen. She wanted to listen.
2. Once again, the seed of the word was planted. Watered. God would cause the growth.
D. Martha was doing the needed things because of her invitation. Mary was doing the one thing needed. It was the better choice. The pressure of the moment can cause us to do what we think are needed things. We want to remember the one thing needed. Interestingly, the Bible has more than one example about “one things”. Here is the request of a believer concerning the importance of one thing. “One thing I ask from the Lord. This is what I seek: that I live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” (PSALM 27:4). We gather in God’s house. We are seeking the one thing needed. We have learned the importance of hearing God’s Word.
E. The Apostle Paul spent his early life chasing down the followers of the Way. Arrested them. Sent them to the authorities to be mistreated. The Lord Jesus called him out of that darkness into light. Life.
“…there is one thing I do: Forgetting the things that are behind and straining toward the things that are ahead, I press on toward the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (PHILIPPIANS 3:13b, 14).
Paul did not allow his past guilt to be a burden. That is the devil’s trick. The Lord freely forgives our sins. Removes our guilty forever. Released the burden of guilt. God has called you upward to be with him forever. Press on toward heaven. Forgiveness. Eternal life. One thing given to us by the Lord.
F. A rich, young man approached Jesus. Wanted to know what to do to be saved. Jesus asked about the commandments. This man boasted that he had kept the commandments. Outward actions. To know God, to love the Lord was a matter of the heart. “Jesus looked at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack. Go, sell whatever you have, and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me’” (MARK 10:21). Jesus still loved the man who was on the wrong path. Solution. Sell what you have and give to the poor. This man could not do this act of Christian love. Charity. Generosity. He had too many possessions. He did not know or have the one thing needed. Martha did. Generous, loving invitation. Mary did. Listened to Jesus. We also have that one thing needed. Faith.
CONCL.: Jesus fed the 5,000 men (+ women and children). They were hungry. At the moment it was thing needed. The crowd followed Jesus. Wanted him to be their bread king. Jesus taught them that he was the Bread of Life. Came down from heaven. They left. Jesus asked the twelve remaining disciples if they wanted to leave. “Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (JOHN 6:68, 69). “ONE THING IS NEEDED”. By grace, we also confess: “’Lord, to whom will we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Christ, the Son of the living God’”. One thing needed and freely given! Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EPIPHANY 6 readings: 2 SAM. 11:1-17, 26, 27; 1 THESS. 4:1-12; MATTHEW 5:21-37; (PSALM 119)
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