One Thing

In Psalm 27:4, King David earnestly pours out his heart’s desire “One thing have I desired of the Lord; 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”.

This is David’s heart at its purest. Such outpourings lead eventually to the Lord describing him as “a man after God’s own heart” (1Samuel 13:14).

When David’s reign was over and his son Solomon took over, it was now Solomon’s turn to expose what was really in his heart. So, by night, the Lord asked Solomon what he desired the most. Solomon’s heart response was for wisdom to lead the nation he had inherited from his father King David. It was another heart response which pleased the Lord.

Many centuries later, Jesus was visiting the home of Mary and Martha, and Scripture records that while Martha was burdened with all the serving she had to do, and complaining, Mary sat at Jesus` feet and was absorbed with all He had to say. When Martha tried to encourage Jesus to get Mary to help her, His reaction wasn’t what she expected.

“Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful; and Mary has chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:42).

Mary’s actions exposed her heart, but by default, and however well intentioned, so did Martha’s.

So, the question is, on a daily basis, have we chosen that “good part” as far as the Lord is concerned. What is our heart choosing and would the Lord be pleased with our choice? The Bible advises us to “Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart” (Psalm 37:4), but our desires must line up with the will of God. He will not give us what He knows is not good for us.

If the Lord were to come to us at night and ask the question He asked Solomon, I wonder what our reply would be. Our answers might be many and varied, but would they be pleasing to the Lord and what He is looking for?