One Thing is Needed

Believe it or not, we’re pretty much back at that time of year again: it’s August, so it’s officially “Back to School” time.  Which means you’ve probably noticed plenty of “Back to School” sale ads.  A typical one usually goes something like this: “Get all your ‘Back to School’ needs at [insert store’s name here]!”  Now, maybe for “Back to School” time the use of the word “needs” is appropriate at times.  In order to take notes and do homework for class you need pencils, or pens, and a notebook, etc.  You might even need a laptop or computer forcertain classes.         However, the word “need” is one of the most misused words in our language and is usually most misused by stores and businesses that are trying to convince you that whatthey are trying to sell you is an absolute necessity.  Despite what advertisers, stores, and online retailers may tell us, we as human beings actually have very few “needs.”  Physically, all we really “need” is oxygen to breathe, water to drink, food to eat, clothes to wear, and modest shelter to protect us and we could live just fine for many years.              Jesus, in our text, reminds us that life is actually even simpler than that: He said to Martha, just “one thing isneeded” (v. 42).