“But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 11:42
In the Gospel of Luke there is a story of a man who is called “the rich young ruler.” He is an intelligent man, well versed in Scripture, and very desirous to live a righteous life. Zealous and in earnest, he comes to Jesus not just to inquire of Him concerning eternal life, but to be delivered from his doubt and fear concerning his own soul. He has sought to obey the ten commandments meticulously believing that in doing so he might find peace. But this has led him only to more anxiety of soul. He has done this “from his youth up,” and in the sincerity of his heart is still pursuing peace, but not God’s way. Hearing of Jesus, most certainly having heard Him speak, and perhaps seen some of the miracles He did, he is driven in earnest to appeal to Him for the answer that he is seeking. It turns out not to be what he was thinking. Jesus told him, “Yet lackest thou “one thing:” sell all that thou hast, and distribute to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow Me.” (Luke 18:22) The one thing that the man needed to hear was the one thing that he did not want to hear, for he was “very rich.” Why did Jesus specifically address the issue of the man’s possessions? It was because the man had made an idol of these things, especially his riches, and thus paid homage to them, trusting them rather than trusting God. He was using the things of earth to “try” to attain the things of God. This is not God’s way. It is in the losing of all, that all is gained in the kingdom of God. It is in the forsaking of all that one becomes free to follow Christ. The man’s sincerity was not the problem. Also, Jesus did not belittle in the slightest the efforts of the man through the years to find peace. However, this material idol which he had made, having become his object trust, and to some extent his pride, had to come down. Until this idol was torn down, he cannot believe. Faith and obedience are God’s ways. It was as the hymnwriter later wrote: “Break down every idol, cast out every foe, Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (J. Nicholson) The “one thing” in this man’s life was an idol in his heart, standing in direct opposition to the reign of Christ as Lord and Savior. The fact that he left sorrowful, not being able to obey Jesus, reveals that he was not yet willing to cry out to God for grace to be saved. The young ruler’s desire had not reached the depths of the cry that Jesus was waiting to hear, one appealing to HIs mercy and grace to save. The answer to this man’s need was not just and answer, but the power given by God to obey Jesus.
In the Old Testament, we find another person who discovered the “one thing” needful, but this time, it is in the life of a believer, one who desires to go on to know the Lord. That person was David, as he wrote in Psalm 27:4, “One thing have I desired of the Lord, and that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple.” Here is a man in pursuit of God who has found the secret, and primacy of worship, in the secret place of God’s presence, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.
The last person who discovered the “one thing” was Mary, who sat at Jesus’ feet. Nothing would move her from being in close proximity to Jesus to hear His words. Why? Those words were living and Life.
Dear Father, Grant these one things. In Jesus’ name, Amen.