As we look ahead we are sometimes overwhelmed by all that is yet to be done.

Twelve months ago we each no doubt thought we would accomplish more than we have. We look back and wonder where the year went and what happened to all our good intentions, and perhaps we resolve that, God willing, next year will be more fruitful. Because there are so many demands upon our time it is important that we make time for the really important things. Jesus told us in Luke 14 about the man who made a great supper and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, ”I have bought a piece of ground, and I must need go and sec it: I pray thee have mc excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. Ana another said, I have married a wife, ana therefore I cannot come.”

It is interesting to notice that each had an excuse, (we usually have an excuse) for things we do not do. We may convince ourselves that it is a valid excuse, but anything in this world, however harmless or important, is wrong if it keeps us from doing the will of God. There is a time coming when most of the things that concern us now will seem very unimportant.

For this reason we should take to heart the lesson Jesus taught when he chided Martha because she was so engrossed in her serving. Now it wasn’t wrong for Martha to prepare a meal for our Lord, in fact it was a very good thing to do, but she became so absorbed in serving that she put that ahead of the Lord. Jesus told her, ”Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

How often we are troubled about so many things that are no more important than Martha’s serving. Martha and all her guests have long since died and we can see how foolish it was for her to be anxious to serve the meal while it was hot and be sure there was enough salt in the soup and all the other things that seem so important to a good cook. They are all dead and it really doesn’t matter.

Most of the things we are anxious about won’t seem very important in another hundred years either, and yet they trouble us a great deal today if we let them. Christ’s words come down to us and give us the true perspective. ”One thing is needful.”

Regardless of how busy we are, and all that we feel we must do, there is really only one thing that matters. ”One thing is needful.” We may have excuses for what we do and do not do. We may have bought a piece of ground or purchased five yoke of oxen or married a wife or have a new job or be building a house or mowing the lawn or serving a supper but whatever we are doing, if it is taking us away from the Lord, it is wrong.

Let us remember that ”one thing is needful and Mary hath chosen that good part which shall not be taken away from her.” May we be as wise as Mary.