𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗢𝗡𝗘 𝗧𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗙𝗨𝗟 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗢𝗙 𝗔 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡

ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDFUL IN THE LIFE OF A NEW CREATION

Main Text: Luke 10:38–42 (KJV)

INTRODUCTION

The moment you received Jesus Christ by believing in your heart and confessing Him as Lord, according to Romans 10:9–10, you entered into a new life in Christ.

You became a New Creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

However, there is something every believer must understand: although we have many responsibilities and legitimate things to pursue in this world, there is one thing that must never be neglected in our lives.

Unfortunately, many New Creations have become occupied with so many things that they are gradually losing sight of the one thing that is needful.

Some are pursuing university degrees, marriage, raising children, building careers, getting jobs, building houses, buying cars, travelling abroad, growing businesses, and gaining recognition on social media.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with pursuing these things. They are legitimate aspects of human life, and some are even responsibilities God expects us to handle faithfully.

However, none of these things must take the place of our relationship with Christ and our continuous receiving of His Word.

You can be successful academically, financially, professionally, socially, and even in ministry, yet neglect the very thing that sustains your spiritual growth.

This brings us to an important question.

WHAT IS THE ONE THING THAT IS NEEDFUL?

Let us examine our main text.

Luke 10:38–39 (KJV)

Luke 10:38 Now it came to pass, as they went, that He entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received Him into her house.

Luke 10:38 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard His word.

Jesus and His disciples entered a certain village, and a woman named Martha received Him into her house.

While Jesus was there, Martha's sister, Mary, made a decision to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His Word.

Notice something important here: Mary was not merely sitting close to Jesus physically; she was positioning herself to receive what He was teaching.

In those days, sitting at the feet of a teacher was a recognized posture of learning and receiving instruction.

Mary understood the value of the opportunity before her. Jesus, the Word of God, was present, and she chose to give her attention to Him.

She was not distracted by other activities. Her attention was on what Jesus had to say.

This is where we must learn something as New Creations.

Our spiritual lives must not be built around the pursuit of material things, human achievements, religious activities, or the approval of people. Our lives must be centred on Christ and His Word.

WHAT ABOUT MARTHA?

Luke 10:40 (KJV)

"But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone?

bid her therefore that she help me."

The Bible says Martha was cumbered about much serving.

The Greek word translated as "cumbered" is perispao, which carries the idea of being pulled away, distracted, or drawn in different directions.

In other words, Martha had become so occupied with serving that she was distracted from the opportunity of hearing Jesus' Word.

Think about this carefully.

Was Martha doing something evil?

No!

She was doing something good. She wanted to entertain Jesus and His disciples properly. She wanted to make sure they were well taken care of.

Her intention was good, and her service was not wrong.

However, something good had become a distraction from something more important.

Martha became so occupied with serving the Lord that she neglected the opportunity to receive from Him.

Eventually, her frustration became evident. She went to Jesus and said:

"Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me."

Notice that Martha was no longer simply concerned about the service. She had become troubled and was now questioning Jesus' concern for her.

This is what happens when we allow distractions to take control of our attention.

We become frustrated, worried, anxious, and sometimes even offended because we have allowed other things to occupy the place that belongs to the Word.

JESUS' RESPONSE TO MARTHA

Luke 10:41 (KJV)

"And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:"

Jesus called her name twice:

"Martha, Martha!"

He then pointed out the problem.

She was careful and troubled about many things.

The word "careful" in this passage carries the sense of anxiety and worry.

Jesus was not condemning Martha for serving. He was addressing the anxiety, distraction, and preoccupation that had taken hold of her.

This is an important lesson for us today.

How many believers are troubled about many things?

Some are so occupied with making money that they have little or no time for the Word.

Some are so consumed with their businesses and careers that their spiritual nourishment has become an afterthought.

Some are so occupied with family responsibilities that they hardly spend time receiving God's Word.

Others are so busy with church activities, programmes, meetings, and religious responsibilities that they have neglected their personal fellowship with Christ.

Let us understand something: being busy with the things of God is not necessarily the same as receiving from God.

You can be busy working for the Lord and still neglect sitting at His feet.

You can be involved in many church activities and still be spiritually malnourished because you are not giving attention to the Word.

The issue is not whether these activities are good or bad. The issue is whether they have taken the place of what is most important.

JESUS REVEALED THE ONE THING THAT IS NEEDFUL

Luke 10:42 (KJV)

"But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Here, Jesus revealed something very important.

There were many things Martha was concerned about, but Jesus pointed her attention to one thing that was needful.

What was Mary doing?

She was sitting at His feet and hearing His Word.

Mary had chosen the good part, and Jesus made it clear that it would not be taken away from her.

The Greek word translated as "needful" is chreia, which refers to a need, necessity, or something required.

Jesus was showing Martha that, above all the things competing for her attention, receiving His Word was the necessary thing.

Notice that Mary made a choice.

She chose to listen.

She chose to receive.

She chose to give Jesus her attention.

This teaches us that our attention is important. We must deliberately make room for the Word of God in our daily lives.

WHY IS THE WORD OF GOD SO IMPORTANT TO A NEW CREATION?

As New Creations, we must understand that our new life in Christ is sustained by continually receiving the truth of God's Word.

The Word reveals who we are in Christ, what Christ has accomplished for us, and what belongs to us through His finished work.

Colossians 2:6–7 (KJV)

"As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in Him:

Rooted and built up in Him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."

Notice the instruction: having received Christ Jesus, we are to continue walking in Him.

We are to be rooted, built up, and established in the faith.

How does this happen?

Through continually receiving, understanding, and growing in the knowledge of Christ and His finished work.

Acts 20:32 (KJV)

"And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified."

Look at what the Scripture says about the Word of His grace.

It is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among those who are sanctified.

The Word of His grace reveals what God has freely provided for us through Jesus Christ.

It establishes our hearts in what Christ has accomplished rather than allowing us to live under fear, condemnation, and the struggle to earn what has already been freely given.

Romans 8:1 (KJV)

"There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

The more we understand the finished work of Christ, the more established we become in our identity, righteousness, acceptance, and inheritance in Him.

This is why we must never neglect the Word.

THE WORD MUST TAKE PRECEDENCE OVER THE DISTRACTIONS OF LIFE

Please understand that I am not saying you should abandon your job, business, marriage, children, education, or other responsibilities.

Neither am I saying that believers should become irresponsible in the name of spirituality.

The Bible teaches us to be diligent and responsible.

However, we must never allow the pursuit of these things to displace our fellowship with Christ and our attention to His Word.

Jesus said in Matthew 6:33:

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."

Our priority must be right.

When the Word takes its rightful place in our lives, it influences how we approach our marriages, businesses, careers, relationships, finances, and responsibilities.

We begin to make decisions from the knowledge of who we are in Christ rather than from fear, anxiety, pressure, or the opinions of people.

We must not become so busy pursuing the blessings of life that we neglect the One through whom we have received every spiritual blessing.

Ephesians 1:3 (KJV)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."

We are already blessed in Christ. We are not pursuing these things to earn God's acceptance or to become qualified for His love.

We live from what Christ has already accomplished for us.

OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS NEW CREATIONS

Jesus did not only call us to receive His Word; He also commissioned us to make that Word known.

Mark 16:15 (KJV)

"And He said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

The Gospel is the good news of what God has accomplished for humanity through Jesus Christ.

Having received this good news, we must also make it known to others.

However, we cannot effectively communicate what we continually neglect to receive and understand.

This is why our personal fellowship with Christ and our commitment to His Word must remain important.

We must receive the Word, grow in it, live by it, and share it with others.

A QUESTION FOR EVERY NEW CREATION

Beloved, what has occupied your attention lately?

What has been taking most of your time, energy, and thoughts?

Is it your business?

Your job?

Your marriage?

Your children?

Your financial challenges?

Your social media activities?

Your church responsibilities?

Or have you deliberately made room to sit at Jesus' feet and hear His Word?

Remember, Martha was not doing something evil. She was doing something good, but she allowed the good to distract her from what was more important.

Do not allow the legitimate responsibilities of life to rob you of the privilege of receiving from Christ.

Do not become so busy working for Jesus that you neglect spending time receiving from Him.

Do not allow the pursuit of material things to become more important than your knowledge of Christ.

The one thing that is needful is to continually give attention to Jesus and His Word.

Mary chose that good part, and Jesus said it would not be taken away from her.

As New Creations, let us make that same choice.

CONCLUSION

The greatest need of a New Creation is not to struggle to become accepted by God, to earn righteousness, or to work for an inheritance that Christ has already secured.

Our greatest need is to continually receive the revelation of who Christ is, what He has accomplished, and who we are in Him.

The Word of His grace is able to build us up and establish us in our inheritance.

Let us therefore refuse to be distracted by the many things competing for our attention.

Like Mary, let us choose the good part.

ONLY ONE THING IS NEEDFUL: GIVING OUR ATTENTION TO JESUS AND CONTINUALLY RECEIVING HIS WORD.

CONFESSION: MY ATTENTION IS ON CHRIST AND HIS WORD

Dear Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ, I am a New Creation in Christ Jesus. I have received eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ.

My life is centered on Christ, and my heart is established in the Word of His grace.

I refuse to be distracted by the many things competing for my attention, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Dear Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ, I do not allow the cares, anxieties, pressures, and pursuits of this world to take the place of my fellowship with Christ.

I give attention to God's Word because it reveals my identity, my righteousness, my inheritance, and all that Christ has accomplished for me, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Dear Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ, I am rooted and built up in Christ, and I am established in the faith.

I am not struggling to earn God's acceptance. I am accepted in the Beloved.

I approach my family, business, career, ministry, and daily responsibilities from the understanding of who I am in Christ.

I choose the good part, just as Mary did, in Jesus' Name. Amen

Dear Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ, my heart is attentive to Jesus, my mind is renewed by His Word, and my life reflects the reality of the New Creation.

The Word of His grace is building me up and establishing me in my inheritance.

I am not a slave to distractions. Christ is my life, and His Word is my delight, in Jesus' Name. Amen

I HAVE CHOSEN THE GOOD PART, AND I WILL CONTINUE TO GIVE MY ATTENTION TO JESUS AND HIS WORD.

In Jesus' Name. Amen!

Amos Iguma

Salvation Ground Ministry Int'l