The Master, Christ Jesus, was a visitor in the home of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, and these were people he loved. So it must have been with tenderness that he spoke. "Martha, Martha," he said, "thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful." Luke 10:41, 42.
What was that one thing? Is it truly attainable? To read the story in Luke is to realize that, to Jesus, spiritual understanding is the most valuable possession we can have. A spiritual understanding of God and of man's true nature shows us how to overcome fear or resentment or selfishness, replacing them with the love that wants to help someone else out of troubles and fears.
But in the midst of demanding work, captivating entertainment, and readily accessible material remedies for sickness, where is the time or inclination to gain a greater understanding of God? Maybe we feel satisfied that a little effort in this direction goes a long way. On the other hand, perhaps we hear the message of the Christ, which Jesus exemplified, tenderly reminding us of that one needful thing: salvation, redemption, health, and peace brought to our world from the summit of spiritual understanding gained individually—and continually.
