The One Thing Needful

The Ninth Sunday After Pentecost

Genesis 18:1-10a
Colossians 1:21-28
Luke 10:38-42

Text : Luke 10:38-42
Title : THE ONE THING NEEDFUL

Grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. (Romans 1:7)

Our Gospel reading for today is the story of Martha and Mary, two sisters who were close friends of our Lord Jesus while he was here on earth. These are the same sisters that John mentions in his gospel. John says that they had a brother, Lazarus, whom our Lord raised from the dead.

Well, Martha and Mary may be sisters, but St. Luke is apparently moré interested in showing us the differences between the two sisters instead of their similarities. In our text, we see the hospitality of Martha. St. Luke says that it was Martha who welcomed our Lord to their house. And it was Martha who was so very busy preparing food and refreshment for our Lord and for his disciples. Remember that our Lord’s disciples were fishermen, men with big appetites. How many times have we ourselves experienced preparing food for many people? Well, Martha felt the same worry, was probably as busy as we can be when we have to entertain many visitors.

We also notice in the story that the Lord does not admonish Martha’s busy-ness. Why? Well, because Martha was doing a good thing. St. Paul, in his letter to Timothy, says that “an overseer must be. . .hospitable. . .” (1 Timothy 3:2b). But, we also notice that Jesus does not praise Martha’s hospitality. More of that in a moment.

Well, let us look at Mary. If seen from worldly eyes, we would be apt to say that Mary is somewhat of a slacker. Ever since Jesus stepped into their house, Mary has done nothing. She just sits there at the foot of Jesus, listening to him, oblivious to the things that need to be done for the guests. The Lord also does not chide or reproach Mary for not doing anything. It is Martha who reproaches Mary, but she does this indirectly. She reproaches Mary by speaking to the Lord. Well, the upshot of this was that it was now the Lord, the guest, whom Martha reproaches, instead of Mary, the hostess: "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me."

Well, what can we conclude from this? First, we conclude that our good works do not earn points with the Lord. Our good works do not draw us closer to God. Our good works are worthless before God. And it doesn’t matter if we are Christians. God will not look at us as holier, or more precious, or closer to Him because of our good works. True, our good works, which are fruits of our faith, do indeed show others that we are the Lord’s disciples. BUT THIS IN NO WAY MEANS THAT OUR GOOD WORKS ARE IN ANY WAY PRECIOUS IN THE SIGHT OF GOD. Martin Luther, in his Heidelberg Disputation, says that when we begin to think that our good works draw us closer to God, then that becomes mortal sin.

And that is what Martha thinks. Martha thinks that God will look at her good works and judge them to be good. Actually, that is not true. I’m sorry, but that’s the way it is. Good works do not matter one whit to God, no matter who does it, Christian or not.

And how many times have we thought like Martha, how many times have we thought that our good works matter to God, that our good works are precious in the sight of God? There were people during Luther’s time who thought that way. They said “Facientibus quod in se est, Deus non denegat gratiam. To those who do the good that is in them, God cannot deny grace.” And so many times, we think the same way, don’t we, that God will have to recognize our good works as good and meet and right because they are good and meet and right.

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” Only one thing is necessary, and Mary, says the Lord, has chosen the better portion. Mary has chosen that one thing necessary. Only one thing is necessary: ONLY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST IS NECESSARY. Why? Because only the Lord Jesus Christ’s works will God accept. Only the Lord Jesus’ perfect fulfillment of the Law will God accept. Only the Lord Jesus’ suffering will God accept. Only the Lord Jesus’ prayers will God accept. Only the Lord Jesus’ death will God accept. Only the Lord Jesus’ good works will God look at as precious in his sight. AND HERE IS GOOD NEWS: ALL THE GOOD THAT THE LORD JESUS HAS DONE, HE DID FOR US. And because everything that the Lord Jesus did he did perfectly, we need only one thing: ONLY THE LORD JESUS. Nothing else, no one else.

And so, because of this, rejoice, people of God. Nevermore do we need to examine our works, if they were perfectly done, or whether God will accept them. Only one thing is necessary, only one thing is needful: ONLY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, for only the Lord Jesus Christ has fulfilled the Law perfectly; only the Lord Jesus Christ’s good works are acceptable to God; and only the Lord Jesus Christ’s death, FOR US, will God accept and look at as precious in his sight.

Only one thing is necessary, that, through faith we accept what the Lord Jesus has done for us. If we choose this, then, like Mary, we have chosen the better portion, and this will not be taken from us.
Only one thing is necessary: not our good works; not our striving; not our concern for the church; not our fulfillment of the Law. Only one thing is necessary: ONLY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.

May the peace of God, which passes all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.