Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-06-04
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THE ONE THING NEEDFUL.


her."-Luke 10; 40
We,a are familiar with the history Of
the two sisters of Bethany, Mary and
Martha. They were both pleased VI
have Jesus abide with them, and their
home was His frequent abode
While they both loved and doubtless
believed In Him as the promised Mes
siah of the Old Testament Scriptures,
/ yet there was a difference in them,
just as now there are Christians and
Christians
Martha was active and busy--very
much engrossed in all the outward
duties of life, as we also see from 9th
er Scriptures than in Luke TO- Mary
was more quiet and meditative, but
with nothing In her of fanatical in
activity, and no charge can be laid of
her neglect of the ordinary duties of
| life. But when Jesus visited them.
as on this occasion, she was more anx
ious to use the opportunity for her
spiritual advantage, and so devoted
herself to His company.
On this occasion Martha seems to
call on Jesus to rebuke Mary for not
sharing the duties of the household
But Jesus, with an emphasis, said
Martha, Martha, thou art careful:
over-anxious, numbered" over bur
dened and worried, with these outward
duties, with many things" of much
service, so that you are missing high
er and spiritual things. Iou are en-
gagged in such elaborate preparations
for Me, so that you are losing higher
and better things. But, "one thing is
needful"; short work and but little
here. but It is rather the basis
of something loftier than any precept
of economy, the idea of the usefulness
of such elaborate preparations for the
present life, of this life compared with
another-"Mar hath chosen that good
part which shall not be TAKEN away
! from her"
The one thing needful. Their is not
! Christ, which would be darogatory 10
His divine being, nor religion, for both
| are living followers of Christ and
! trusting in Him, as seen in John IL.
But, there is this difference between
| them, that Mary is giving more atten
ton to the inward and spiritual while
Martha Is engrossed more fully with
the outward and temporal. While both
are to a certain extent necessary, yet
when opportunity is given, 1t is best
| to miss or omit the outward things
| rather than miss the higher and spir-
| itual heart worship which will prepare
! for heart service. Such inward com
| munion by prayer and study of the
! Scriptures will all the better fit for the
! duties of life and, so inspired with
| grace and strength, enable us to per
| form them more acceptably.
| Is this not true with so many men
| involved in business to such an extent
/ that they do not take time for spirit
ual matters, and therefore lack the Joy
| in the strength for higher and spirit.
! ual life? Is 1t not also true with
some women that they allow domestic
| cares, or even some of the outward
duties of the church, to interfere and
take the place of inward and spiritual
communion with God?
So what is here intended seems to
be the need of higher conservation of
the heart to Goo and His service. The
first and greatest commandment of all
Is 10 love the Lord our God with all
our heart and soul and strength and
mind.
Then again, we are told It is only as
we search for God with all our heart
that He will be found of us! This is
the supreme duty that is so frequently
urged upon us in both the Old and
New Teastments and SO often impress
ed upon us by me various providences
OF life This is the duty practiced by
Christ Himself, as He so often with
drew apart by Himself to commune
with his Heavenly Father. This, too.
is the promise that they who walt up.
on the Lord shall renew their
strength Is. 40: 81. And is not this
the better part? Jesus answers how
this Is the better part in that 1T shall
not be taken away from her" Mar
ths's choice OF service was rather the
mere outward and temporal, and
would be taken away from her, for
this outward service would come to
an end and die with her. But. Mary's
part being inward and spiritual would
remain with her like treasure laid IN
In heaven. and would continue to the
further development Of a higher spIr
itual life throughout the ages Of eter
nifty. So while both were real and
true disciples, Mary was more inter
ested In the higher way Of serving the
inward and spiritual, while Martha
was more absorbed in the lower of two
ways Of serving and honorlng their
Lord.
We need to mediate, to Z, immune
to consecrate ourselves more fully to
God. to be flied with His spirit
through much prayer and more study
Of His word, 50 that we might daily
grow IN grace and in the knovyledos