The One Thing Needed

The One Thing Needed

Luke 10:38-42; Psalms 46:10; Proverbs 3:5-6

Online Sermon: http://www.mckeesfamily.com/?page_id=3567

What’s the number one thing you’re chasing after in life right now? Maybe, in your deep longing for connection, you're seeking to be known—really known—understood, and loved... and to love others in return. Maybe it's recognition, status, or a legacy that drives you—so your calendar is packed with goals, ambitions, and the pursuit of success. Maybe, in this chaotic world, you're searching for peace, joy, and contentment by diving into hobbies, strengthening family bonds, improving your health or finances. Or perhaps there's just this deep, unshakable desire to become a better version of yourself… but you're unsure how to get there.

Whatever it is you're striving for—here’s the real question: Are you getting there? And if not… what’s holding you back? Experts tell us it takes 21 days to form a simple habit, 66 days for a more complex one, and about 10,000 hours of focused effort to master a skill like music, chess, or sports. But who has that kind of time when life pulls us in a thousand directions at once? Sure, studies show that nearly two-thirds of Canadians are satisfied with their leisure time —but that doesn’t mean we’re spending it wisely. We live in a culture that celebrates being busy. 'Time poverty' has become a strange badge of honor. So maybe the problem isn’t a lack of time—but how we spend it. Maybe it's the nearly five hours a day we devote to our smartphones and social media. Maybe it's our relentless drive to work harder, earn more, and chase after what the world says matters most. In the process, we lose sight of the fact that we do have a choice—a choice to slow down and live with intentionality.

And that’s exactly what today’s message is about. God is not just concerned with what you do, but who you’re becoming—and whether He’s truly at the center of it all. It’s an invitation: Take time… to be holy. In a world overflowing with options, Apostle Paul reminds us that not all things are beneficial. Being constantly busy—always chasing, always doing—can mean being under Satan’s yoke, robbed of the very time we need to spend with the Lord. The one thing most worth striving for is a deeper relationship with Christ—the One who paid the ultimate price to redeem you. Yes, daily tasks and responsibilities matter. God calls us to be diligent and work faithfully. But He never meant for us to be enslaved by our ambitions, anxieties, or addictions to success and approval. To be holy as God is holy means learning to let go. It means refusing to let what is temporary control your life. It means anchoring yourself to the Rock of your salvation—and making Him your priority.

So, before we turn to Scripture, take a moment. Reflect. What is truly consuming your time? What are you pouring your energy into—and is it eternal or fleeting?

What would it look like if you fully surrendered …

your time, your desires, your future…

to Christ?

Let us see what Luke has to say about the dangers of multitasking (Luke 10:38-42), the Psalmist about our need to be still and know God (46:10), and king Solomon about trusting in God so that we might make Him the number One priority in our lives (Proverbs 3:5-6)!

Martha’s Mistake of Multitasking

To better understand what it looks like to put God first, let’s turn to a familiar story in Luke’s Gospel—one that paints a vivid picture of the tension between busyness and being present with God. In Luke 10:38–40, we meet two sisters—Martha and Mary—who make very different choices in response to Jesus' visit:

As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. 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!”

Luke 10:38-40

This moment may seem simple at first—but it’s deeply revealing.

In Jesus’ day, women were often treated as little more than property, and their voices rarely counted in religious spaces. So, for a Jewish rabbi to enter the home of two women—and allow one to sit at His feet in the posture of a disciple—was radical. Martha, aware of the cultural weight of the moment, did what many of us might do. She sprang into action—opened her home, rolled up her sleeves, and got to work making sure everything was just right. You’ve probably met a Martha or two in your life—those who carry the load for everyone else. And if you’re honest, you may even be her. She’s the one who serves faithfully but feels constantly behind. The one who seems outwardly grateful to help but inwardly carries a burden of guilt, anxiety, and the fear that it’s never quite enough. As she scrambled to prepare the perfect meal for her honored Guest, her focus shifted—from serving out of love to striving for perfection. And as Mary sat in stillness, soaking in every word from Jesus, Martha’s heart grew heavy… and frustrated.