The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-10-21
An Ever Present Truth.

, But one thing Is needful.-Luke
10:42.
The text is an old fact restated in
the terms of the Gospel for answer
10 the numerous and many sided
questions of our modern life.
In order 70 attain pre-eminence and
success men everywhere are coming
to recognize more and more the Wis
dom of conservation in the pursuit OF
some. one thing. Michael Angeles
having a fixed goal pursued 1t with
an ambition that consumed him. He
forgot hunger, thirst and bodily
fatigue, and at length the world
crowned him as master Of his art.
In the realm of music Handel is
called a prince and the very soul Of
art. This, however, never could have
been true Of him, nor could he have
written immortality into his lnames
had he been other than the man
whose passions and powers In the
pursuit of the M thing were offered
on the alt:.r of music. It has BEEN
said of him that his ardor for celestial
sounds cdused the keys of his harpst-s
chord by his frequent manipulation to-
assume the shape of spoons.
Our text finds Jesus among Hill
friends in the Bethany home, and Hit
words r; veal the two persons
Martha and Mary-in striking COM
trast. Martha is deeply concerned
about the material things. There 10:
much Of anxiety, and hustle about
her as she thinks of His entertain.
ment, comfort and food. Mary, tne
very soul Of seeming indifferencestd
all temporal things, thinks only OF 4
seat at His feet, where she may listeHg
to His every word. When at length
the business Of Martha car stand its
no longer, she complains % Jesus
saying, "Carest Thou not that my Sis,
ter hath left me to serve alone?n His
answer is not a rebuke to her activity.
but rather an Interpretation of it with
dignity and strength, "Btt one thing
Is needful."
What did the Master mean? What
is this one thing? Perhaps it may be;
answered best by placing emphasis on
the word "one," so as to makefit in-
elusive, and say: Thou lackest one
thing. That is, the one thing lacking
comprehends all wants and hunger
ings, all life and power. If this be!
true, then the zone thing needfuIs
must be that for which men every
where have been searching, and TOR
which men-even now-unconsciously,
perhaps-are seeking in strange ways
and by many questions. It Is the
lone thing needful" for the aching
heart which refuses to be quoted, and
says: "Is there any meaning In
life?" 1t is the zone thing needfulD
for the man who in the midst Of his
struggles is conscious of gradual de-
feat in the rounds Of daily life, ex@s
claiming: lis there no way out OF
this tangle of being and doing?' IT
is the zone thing needful" for the
profound philosopher in his study, for
the capitalist with his wealth, for the
aged and the young, for the learned
and the ignorant. Yes, it is the Zone
thing needful" for the whole world.
What Jesus said to Martha has
been the truth of the ages. It Is the
truth of the present. How much, men
everywhere need the lone thing
which punctuates life with knoWi-
edge, with strength and fills the soul
with peace. we MuSl uoI ldl1 W
recognize that it had something to do
with Himself; for, speaking Of Mary,
who sat at His feet listening to His
words, He said: Mary hath chosen
the better part" The good part
meant Himself. To know Him is to
know the lone thing %needful; ITO find
Him is to find 1t. He and it are ones
He came to help our needy humanity.
to satisfy with His light, love and
peace our deep warnings for. the life
which now is, and to comfort US with
the truth of immortality. .,hEts4
Our hymns, our prayers, u eX-
hortations are all based on the one
appeal: Come to Jesus" Come to-
Him because all life stands In need
of what He alone has to give. II He
can satisfy the need, then He Is the
power to help, and belief in Him Is
the one thing needful.-The Rev. J..
Henry Hartman, pastor fremont
Presbyterian Church, New York, in
the Sunday Herald. =.