We're looking today at Luke chapter
10, and we hope to finish Luke chapter 10, and we'll be looking
at verse 38 down through verse 42. I'm taking the title for
the message from what is said in verse 42 of Luke 10, if you
want to underscore this. But one thing, one thing is needful. Just one thing. You're sitting
there this morning and you have only one thing that is needful. Spiritually speaking, and really
in all life, one thing is only necessary. What would that one
thing be? What would you imagine that one
thing would be that's absolutely necessary that you must have
right now or forever perish in your sin. What is that one thing? Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ. Now when we think of all things
that we might consider necessary to sustain us in this life, there
is truly and only one thing that is an absolute must. An absolute must. And that one
thing that is absolutely necessary is being found in the Lord Jesus
Christ. That's why Paul said, I count
everything else as lost, dung, and ruined, that I may win Christ
and be found in Him. Being vitally joined to the Lord
Jesus Christ by living union of faith. That is what is most
necessary for you and me. Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. John put it this way, this is
a record that God has given to us eternal life, and this life
is in His Son. He that hath the Son, one thing
needful, he that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the
Son of God does not have life. Now, that's a necessary. The
Lord Jesus Christ is absolutely necessary for all of salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
only thing needful. Without Him, we have nothing
of eternal or spiritual value. You see, the fashion of this
world, everything you look upon, everything you look at with this
natural eye, the fashion of this world is surely passing away."
The fashion of this world is passing away. Only that which
is of eternal value found in Christ is the only thing that
really matters and the only thing that lasts. Now, this story here
found in Luke 10, 38-42 is only given by Luke. It's not given by Matthew, not
given by Mark, not given by John. And it is most instructive for
everyone, but especially you who believe the gospel." Good
instruction from the Lord. Now, let's consider this little
family. Mary, Martha. I think Martha was the older
sister. She seemed to be in charge of the household. Mary and Martha,
and they had a brother whom the Lord loved. But who was sick? His name was Lazarus. They lived
in the city of Bethany, which is about two miles from Jerusalem.
This family was blessed to believe the Lord Jesus Christ was the
Messiah and trusted him for all their salvation. We read that
confession of Martha found in John 11, 27. Martha confessed,
I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God. That is a good confession. This
family, being a family full of believers, they faithfully followed
the Lord Jesus Christ and His teaching, they submitted to His
teaching, they submitted to His authority, His Lordship, they
followed His ministry, and they were truly devoted to Him. They
loved the Lord Jesus Christ, didn't they? They were looking
to Him for all of their salvation. And the Lord in John chapter
11 tells us why that Martha and Mary and Lazarus loved the Lord
Jesus Christ. Did you catch that in John chapter
11? He tells us why. It says, Now Jesus loved Martha
and her sister and Lazarus. You see, We only love Him because
He first loved us. If you're a lover of the Lord
Jesus Christ, it is because He has loved you with an everlasting
love from all eternity and He has set His love upon you. It was a time of love and called
you like He did Lazarus out of that grave and made you a new
creature in Christ Jesus. Now, when the Lord Passed by
that way through Bethany to Jerusalem. They were eager to invite him
to their home and to receive him as an honored guest. Now
what a privilege. You just put yourself in Martha's
place. in the place of Mary, the Lord
Jesus Christ is coming that way, and they hear about it, and they
send out word, Lord, would you come to our house? And they received
Him, it says here in verse 38, now it came to pass as they went,
that is the Lord and His Apostle, that He entered into a certain
village, we know it to be Bethany, and a certain woman named Martha
received Him. Now you see that? Receive him
into her house. Now this is exactly what saving
faith does. When we hear of the Lord Jesus
Christ, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God,
we do receive Him in all of His character, in all that He is,
we receive Him by faith, and we embrace Him and look to Him
in saving faith. That's what saving faith does.
looks to Christ alone. By Him all that believe are justified
from all things which could not be justified by the law of Moses. Being justified by faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Now, let's consider for a moment
this family of Martha, Mary her sister, and Lazarus the brother. Being a believer does not exempt
us from troubles, heartache, and sorrow in this life. Being
a believer does not exempt us. This family loved the Lord. I
mean, they believed Him to be the Messiah, the Christ, and
they confessed Him to be the Son of God. But the brother of
these two believers, we know as we read in John 11, became
sick, maybe the Lord didn't love him as much. No, it says there
in that text, he whom thou lovest is sick. So, being a believer
does not prevent sickness. Being a believer does not prevent
heartache and trial. Lazarus became sick and Lazarus
died, yet we know the Lord loved him. So never ever get this idea
in your mind because someone is sick, or because someone's
going through a trial, and that person says he's a believer,
that the Lord doesn't love him. No, whom the Lord loveth, he
chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. You see,
they had trouble. Man that's born of woman is few
days and full of trouble. They had trouble with sin because
they were sinners. They had trouble with sickness
and death because they lived in this sin, curse, world in
which we live. Sickness is all around us. Sickness
is within us. I get up every morning and I
try to move a little bit and I say, oh, that hurts. What's
going on? This body is full of decay. I mean it's quickly going to
the grave. Dust thou art and dust thou shalt
return. But grace and believing the gospel
is no exemption from trouble. Those that will live godly in
the Lord Jesus Christ shall suffer persecution. Faith is no exemption
from heartache and sorrow. Our Lord says in John 16, These
things have I said unto you, that in me ye might have peace,
In this world you shall have tribulation, but be of good cheer."
He said, I've overcome. We have the victory over sin,
death, hell, and the grave through the Lord Jesus Christ. You see,
the Lord sends trials and grace. The Lord sends a trial and then
He sends Grace for the trial. Wherever providence, the good
and sovereign providence of God, wherever His providence leads
us, His grace follows us. And God gives grace for the trial,
in the time of trial. Now, you who are older believers,
haven't you always found that to be so? Where providence takes
you, the grace of God is sufficient. And when the trial comes, God
also gives the grace. Now here's the second thing I
want us to notice in verse 38 down to verse 40. These two sisters
were both believers. Look what it says. Martha received
him into her house. I take it that she was the older
sister and in charge of the household. And she had a sister called Mary,
which also sat at the Lord's feet and heard His word. I mean, that's a good place to
be, is it not? Sitting at the feet of the Lord
Jesus Christ and hearing Him speak. But Martha, she was a
busy woman, she was covered about with much serving, and came to
him." Now, I kind of get the picture that the Lord is in maybe
a different room, or maybe just outside the house, or maybe in
the porch of the house, and He's surrounded by all these different
people, and there He is teaching these who are willing to sit
and listen, and here comes in a rambunctious Martha. Here comes
in Martha. And she interrupts the preacher. She said, Lord, don't you care
that my sister had left me alone to serve? Command her to come
over here and help me. Now, can you imagine such a sight? I thought about this a long time.
These two sisters were both believers, right? I mean they both were
believers. Both were partakers of a divine
nature in the new birth. Both were made new creatures
in Christ, but they went about things in a different manner,
didn't they? Now this will help us. Martha,
like Peter, you remember Peter, rambunctious and bold and outspoken. Martha, like Peter, was active,
impulsive, strong-willed, hard-working. She spoke out her mind, and she
did it openly. Lord, if you'd been here, my
brother hadn't died. He couldn't have died. But Martha
was truly devoted, as Peter was. But here, in our story, she was
cumbered about, distracted about with so much serving all these
special guests, and they were special, and they needed to be
served. The Lord and His twelve apostles
were coming to her house for food and refreshment, and she
was in a scurry. She was in a scurry. Now, here's
Mary. Mary knows the same thing that
Martha knows. She's a believer like Martha,
and yet she seemed unconcerned. She would rather sit at the Lord's
feet and listen, and listen. Now, Mary, like John, John the
apostle, was quiet, calm, easygoing, ready, and willing to sit at
the Master's feet and to learn of Him. Now Martha, rambunctious,
Mary, calm, quiet, reposed. You see, grace reigns through
righteousness in both of them. But each of them, the grace of
God had a different effect upon them. Now, here's the lesson.
We must never think a person is not converted or a lover of
Christ because they do not respond in a certain situation like we
would. That's nothing but... Now, oftentimes
we're tempted to think, well, if that happened to me, I'd... Wait a minute now. Not happened
to you. As someone said, don't criticize that Indian until you've
walked a thousand miles in his moccasins. You might have a problem
too. We must never think a person
is not converted or a lover of Christ because they do not respond
in a certain situation like we do. That's nothing but pride
and self-righteousness. That's all that is. God's sheep
all have their own different peculiarities and personalities,
and they each react in different ways. Some in a quiet spirit,
some in maybe an outspoken spirit. Now listen, all believers are
alike in the principal things of the gospel. All confess their
sin unto God, talking about believers. All trust Christ for all of their
salvation, yet in many ways believers are different. Lionel is Lionel
and Tom is Tom. Now I can't be like him and he
can't be like me. And when we try to live like
someone else, we just make big mistakes. Be who you are. Be who you are. You see, in many
ways, believers are different. They have different gifts, and
they serve the Lord in different ways, in different capacities.
Now, I want you to turn and read this with me. Fine. Hold your
place there. Fine. 1 Corinthians chapter 11. Chapter 12 will work better.
1 Corinthians chapter 12. By the one Spirit are we all
baptized into the one body. 1 Corinthians chapter 12 verse
13. You got it? For by one Spirit
are we all baptized into the one body, whether we be Jews
or Gentiles, bound or free. All have been made to drink of
that one Spirit of God. For the body is not one member,
but many. So the foot, if the foot shall
say, because I'm not the hand, am I not of the body? Is it therefore
not of the body? If the ear shall say, because
I'm not the eye, am I not of the body? Is it therefore not
of the body? If the whole body were an eye, were they hearing?
If the whole body were hearing, were they smelling? You see what
he's saying here? Look at verse 18. But now God
has set members, every one of them in the body as it has pleased
him. as it has pleased Him, Him, Him,
Him. We need in the body of Christ
both eyes and ears. both feet and hands. We need
both Peter and John, both Mary and Martha. Let's not try to
put everyone into the same mold. We thank God for all of His sheep,
for all believers have different gifts and serve the Lord in a
different way, in a different capacity. We're all one body,
but we're members, everyone in that body. Okay, here's the second
thing I want us to look at in In our story in Luke chapter
10, turn back over there, Mary, it says here, sat at the Lord's
feet, verse 39. And she had a sister called Mary
which sat also, which sat at Jesus' feet and heard His teaching,
heard His Word, preaching the gospel. Now, while Martha was
busy about the house, trying to fix something to eat. She
was cumbered and distracted about much. And notice carefully what
she said to the Lord, maybe even interrupting the Lord. Verse
40, Martha was cumbered about with much serving, and came to
Him and said, Lord, don't you care? Now what a charge. What a charge to level against
the all-compassionate, loving Lord. Don't you care? What a charge! You see, she was
a believer. She confessed to the Lord. She
was outspoken, wasn't she? Lord, don't you care? Yes, he
cares. That my sister had left me. There
it is. That's the problem right there.
Me. Me first. Remember that sermon on me first? Now she starts to tell the Lord
what to do. As if he doesn't know. Remember,
it came to pass. You see, the Lord arranged all
this to happen, to teach her and to teach us. Bid her therefore
that she help me. I mean, you command her right
now to get up from where she's sitting, come over here and help
me cut up some tomatoes. Martha stands before the Lord
talking and complaining about her situation rather than listening
to the Lord. Lord, don't you care about me?
My sister sits at your feet and has left me alone. Now, command
Mary to help me. Now, two things we see here. Mary standing and talking. Martha standing and talking,
and Mary sitting and listening. Now let me ask you a question.
How much have you ever learned by talking? You learn by listening. You learn
by listening. A wise old preacher used to say
to young people who had many questions, you just sit and listen
and all your questions will be answered. Just sit and listen.
and all your questions will be answered. Don't stand up and
spout off. Sit down and hush. Be swift to hear and slow to
speak. And maybe then when you do speak
you'll have something to say, rather than putting your foot
in your mouth, making a fool of yourself. You see what's going
on here Here we see the old Adam sin nature starts to creep out
in Martha, doesn't it? That's what we see. She complained
to the Lord about her sister doing nothing. Why would she
do that? Why wouldn't she say, oh, I'm
so thankful Mary has the opportunity to sit at the Lord's feet and
learn of Him and hear Him. But no, you see that old nature
that we still have, that is full of sin, that just thinks about
Me first! All of us are plagued with this.
May the Lord suppress it. May the Lord cause us to put
off the old man with his deeds. Now, here's a practical lesson
for us. Let us not get so involved and
distracted with the cares of this life that we neglect the
weightier matters of worshiping the Lord and seeking to serve
Him. Seek ye first the kingdom of
God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added
unto you. Now, I'm not saying that we shouldn't enjoy things
in life. Men enjoy their work. They enjoy
their hobbies. I enjoy my family. I enjoy traveling. I enjoy these different things.
But these things are not needful. The one thing that is needful
is sitting at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ. We must be careful about neglecting
the weightier matters of worshiping the Lord and seeking to serve
Him rather than be so distracted. And we have so many distractions
in this life today. I mean, we just have distractions
everywhere you go. You have distractions that pull
us away from worshiping and serving the Lord. Now, this is just being
plain and honest. We live in this life that is
full of distraction. We've got to get up and go to
work in the morning. Somebody's got to put food on the table.
I mean, we have these things that have to be done. But let
us not go about our daily life and our daily walk being totally
distracted from looking to the Lord Jesus Christ. Does that
help you? I hope it does. Now, here's the last thing I
want us to consider in verse 41. What's the Lord going to say
to this woman? I mean, the Lord loves her. We read that clearly. The Lord loved Martha and Mary. And the Lord answered her with
a double-double. Martha, Martha. Martha! Oh, in case you didn't hear me,
Martha! He got her attention, didn't he? You're careful, anxious, and
you're troubled. about so many things. And this life is full of anxiety
and care. But one thing is needful. Mary, you see, Mary hath chosen
that good part which shall not be taken, which shall not be
taken away from her. Now here we see the Lord's solemn
rebuke and the Lord's remedy. First a rebuke. First a rebuke. Martha, Martha, you're troubled,
you're anxious about too many things. Now remember, the Lord
knows her heart throughly and completely. The Lord's looking
right at her motive, right at her heart. He knows everything
that's going on. in her mind. And like a loving
wise parent who sees the fault of the erring child, he chastens
her tenderly with a rebuke, doesn't he? Whom the Lord loveth, he
chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. And then the Lord gives her the
remedy, the remedy. Like a wise physician, a wise
physician, diagnoses the disease, and then he applies the remedy. Now, my son is a young doctor. He just finished his three-year
residency program, and he's been on the job as an attending physician
at the University of Kentucky for one week. He'd been on the
job for one week. He worked 12 seven-hour shifts. And I asked him, after he was
about to finish his first week as being an attending physician,
I said, what is the most important thing you learned? He said, well,
I've made some diagnosis. I've made some important diagnosis
on certain patients. I was able to diagnose their
condition and able to provide the remedy. Provide the medicine. Now see, a wise physician, he
has to know what the disease and problem is before he just
starts writing out prescriptions. Hey, will you just take this,
just take this, just take that. You got to know the problem,
right? That's exactly what the Lord Jesus Christ, He is the
wise physician who knows the problem, sin, and applies the
medicine that we need, which is His Word, His Truth, His Gospel. One thing is needful for our
problem, and that is His truth. His Word is a lamp unto our feet,
a light unto our path. The only thing needful in this
life is to hear of Him. To hear of Him. the Lord Jesus
Christ. Being one with Him by this vital
union of faith, we have all things in Christ. The Lord said, one
thing is needful, to sit and listen to the Lord Jesus Christ.
Being one with Him by a vital union of faith, we have all things
in Him. All spiritual blessings are found
in Him, and I love what He says here, they shall never be taken
away. You know, the Lord doesn't give
a blessing and then take it away. When He gives us salvation, He
saves us with an everlasting salvation. When He gives us redemption,
He redeems us with eternal redemption. We shall never be taken away.
The Lord Jesus Christ is all of our salvation. We're complete
in Him. Christ is our portion. That word
there, part, means that Christ is our portion. He's our good
portion. He is our part. That is, the
Lord Jesus Christ is our inheritance and reward that shall never be
taken away. It shall never be diminished.
It shall never fade. You see, faith in Christ will
never be taken away. The Lord Jesus Christ gives us
salvation that shall never be taken away. We read in Romans
8-7, we've been made heirs of God and joint heirs with the
Lord Jesus Christ. My God shall supply all your
need according to his riches in glory through the Lord Jesus
Christ. We've been made heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ Himself. Now listen to this. 1 Peter 1,
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who
according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again to a living
hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance
incorruptible, undefiled, that fadeth not away, that's reserved
in heaven for you. Just one thing needful. You need
Christ. But you know what? You'll never
know your need of Christ until he makes you to see that you
need him. You need him. Now, he says here
that Mary hath chosen. Mary hath chosen." This was Mary's
choice to sit at His feet, and it was a choice of grace. This
is not something that men do naturally. The carnal mind is
enmity. To choose to sit at His feet
is to believe His Word, and we believe only by the power of
His grace. Mary's choice was to sit at His
feet, and it was a choice of grace. This is where true faith
leads. Not to stand in opposition and
complain, but rather to humbly sit at the feet of the Lord Jesus
Christ. Our Lord said, Come unto me,
all you that labor and are heavy laden. I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn
of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart. That's Matthew 11,
verse 28-30. Saving faith bows in submission
to the Lord Jesus Christ. Saving faith confesses Him as
Lord to the glory of God the Father. Now, Martha was sternly
rebuked, right? What's going to happen to Martha?
What's the rest of the story about Martha? Well, the Lord
gives it to us. Turn over to John chapter 12.
You reckon she quit? You reckon she quit serving the
Lord? You reckon she just quit believing
the Lord? Quit serving Him? No, not at
all. Over here in John chapter 12,
then six days, Before the Passover came, the Lord came to Bethany
where Lazarus was which had been dead, whom He raised from the
dead, and they made him a supper." Now watch it. Here it is again. Martha served. Where's Mary? Lazarus was one of them that
sat at the table with him. This is Lazarus being raised
from the dead. Then Mary took a pound of ointment
and sparked her very costly, anointed the feet of the Lord
Jesus, wiping his feet with her hair, and the house was filled
with the odor of the ointment. Here again, Martha She believed
in the Lord. She received Him again into her
house and is serving the Lord as Martha would do. And here
again, Mary is sitting at His feet, anointing His feet. preparing his body for what is
about to happen, as you read on there. See, the point is,
she persevered in faith. She's still serving the Lord.
She didn't say, well, you're not welcome in my house. No,
come on! Come on! I still believe you.
I still love you. May the Lord be our teacher,
that we might learn the one thing needful, Christ and Him crucified. That's the lesson. I thought
of this Psalm, Psalm 27. One thing have I desired of the
Lord, and that will I seek after. One thing that I have 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 inquire in His temple. One thing is needful.
May the Lord bless His Word. Amen.