Only One Thing is Needed

Imagine! If I could have anything in the world I wanted, what would it be? The mind reels at the thought. So many options! So many ideas, all clamouring to get out and come to life! Would it be something for myself - something extravagant but out of reach, some lifelong passion that I have longed for? Or perhaps it would be a trip somewhere, to see family or friends or a luxurious holiday. Maybe I could ask for help or provision for someone in need, for health and restoration, for peace and comfort. All of these things would have equal urgency and be clamouring for position.

 What is my heart’s desire? Material pleasures, wealth and riches, come high on the agenda of many. But great wealth is not the way to contentment. ‘Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy (1 Timothy 6:17). ‘When you glance at wealth, it disappears, for it makes wings for itself and flies like an eagle to the sky’ (Proverbs 23:5).

Jesus was visiting the home of Martha and Mary (Luke 10:38). Martha was anxious. She wanted to please the Lord, but didn’t quite know how. She was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening intently to all He was saying. She knew this was a once-only opportunity to absorb the teaching of Jesus, and was hungry for all He had to say. ‘Jesus said to Martha, “Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her”’ (Luke 10:41-42).

King David had one request for God. He wanted one thing more than anything else in the world: “One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).

Only one thing is needed. Only one thing was asked for. But God’s heart is open towards us, and Jesus said: “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32).

What more do we want? What more do we need, when God is willing to give us everything? With this assurance we can live in peace and contentment, knowing that He will supply our every need, and all the riches of heaven are stored up for us.

We have His assurance: ‘His divine power has given us everything we need for life and Godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness’ (2 Peter 1:3).

And we have His promise: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled’ (Matthew 5:6).