... But Only One Thing is Needed...

As we approach the end of the year, a number of things are needed, we should reflect on all we've done this year, what we couldn’t do and how we can improve. We know, (or are now reminded) that without God, we can do nothing, but even with God, we might not accomplish much, unless we are doing the one thing that is needed.

This afternoon, I found myself praying against the prodigal son’s brother and Martha syndrome. I had to stop for a few seconds or maybe more to understand what I was praying… turns out that the two are more similar than we might have guessed. They both had the privilege of having an intimate relationship with God but missed out on the most important thing while supposedly serving Him…

Like Jesus told Martha… “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed…” Luke 10:41. The verse continues to say that Mary has chosen what is needed and it will not be taken from her. What did Mary choose? She chose to sit and listen to Jesus, she cared about what God had to say, laughed at His jokes, paid attention to Him and valued His company more than caring about what He ate or any other preparations… the point is, God needs us to first have a relationship with Him, before going on and on about how we want to spend and be spent for Him. It is possible to care about the latter and miss out big time in the Kingdom of God. Ask the prodigal son’s brother! He lived with the King but instead of developing a relationship with Him, He worked his behind off with the servants as if He was a servant. What just crossed my mind as I was typing the last statement is …some of us act like we are angels, but we are nowhere close… we are not ministering Spirits, we are mini Gods, and we would only know our worth and where we should serve when we are at Jesus’ feet like Mary was.

I’ve been terrified of turning cold on God, not being hot enough and not doing what I am supposed to, not accomplishing my purpose and the likes, but I believe God is saying “Nene, Nene, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed” … wow! What a relief! As long as I’m sitting at the feet of Jesus, I’m good! It doesn’t mean I won’t work for God, it just means, I’d only do the necessary work He requires of me… while maintaining a consistently growing relationship with Him… I imagine Jesus talking, pausing and telling Mary to get Him some water, waits for Mary to get back with the water and then continuing. That’s how it should be with people who are in close proximity with God and paying close attention to what He is saying…. They always know what to do and always do the right, needful things- They serve in the right departments, they speak the right words – they reflect the mind of Jesus because they’ve been drenched in His presence

The truth is they never get burned out, like a friend of mine mentioned a couple of times, the apostles lived a few years but they were always on fire for God, well now we know their secret! Intimacy with God! If we choose to be distracted by all the preparations that need to be made like Martha was (Luke 10:40) or slave away our years living in misery supposedly for God like the prodigal son’s brother (Luke 17:29) because we think that’s what makes God pleased, we will get burned out, be miserable and start complaining like they both did.

God is saying calm down, I am more interested in having an intimate relationship with you than in putting you to work for me… that’s the only way you can know what I want you to do anyway. If you don’t get close to me, you may work for me and never get the full reward because you’d been doing what I didn’t ask you to do, you will also be ignorant of your rights which may eventually lead to bitterness, strife and envy – things that I dislike that will draw you further away from me. So stop and come closer…

I pray that none of us will be distracted by the preparations that need to be made, but like Mary will choose to do the only thing that is needed, and may we permanently do that which is needful (may it not be taken away from us like Jesus said of Mary) and if we have strayed, I pray that we go back to our Father, who eagerly waits for our return.

God Bless You