As parents, we often find ourselves repeating certain phrases to our children—"If there's one thing you should remember, it's this..." These "one things" are usually about the most important lessons we want them to learn. Interestingly, the Bible also uses this expression to highlight what truly matters in life. Throughout Scripture, we see examples of people discovering their "one thing"—the thing that matters most to them in their relationship with God.
David’s One Desire: To Dwell with God (Psalm 27:4)
David tells us in Psalm 27:4, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.” David was a hunted man. Saul desired to kill him. But in the midst of his trials, his heart longed to be where God was. This was the joy of His life, to be near God. This desire is the reason he was able to write the beloved 23rd Psalm. God was with him.
What is your one desire? Have you thought about what is the most important thing to you in your life? Is your first thought of your loved ones or is it of God? When times are tough do we want to be closer to God, or do we give up on God?
The Rich Young Ruler: Lacking One Thing (Mark 10:17-22)
In Mark 10:17-22, we read the story of the rich young ruler. Here was a wealthy, powerful young man who had tried to obey the law his whole life. "What must I do to be saved?", he asked. The young ruler didn't realize he was about to face bitter disappointment. Jesus loved the young man, but He knew his heart. When Jesus told him the "One thing you lack is to sell everything you own," He revealed that the one thing the young man valued above all was his money. It was not a sin for him to have money, but it was a sin to treasure it above God. We might ask ourselves, has God caused us to think that we should give up something we value for Him? Have we been willing to? Could it be social status? Money? Time? Our own wants? Our family?
The Blessings of Leaving All for God (Luke 18:28)
Following this story, Peter speaks up, telling Jesus about the sacrifices made by the disciples who followed Him. In Luke 18:28, Peter tells Jesus that they have left everything to follow Him. The Lord replies that those who have left home or family for the sake of God will receive much more now and in eternal life. The "more" Jesus speaks of are blessings, not physical, worldly things.
Mary and Martha: Choosing the Good Part (Luke 10)
In the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10, when Jesus comes to their home, Martha is scurrying around tending to needs, while Mary is sitting at Jesus's feet and hearing His words. Martha scolds Jesus and expects Him to reprimand Mary for not doing her part, but instead, Jesus tells Martha, "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
The good part, the "one thing", that Mary chose was to be still and listen to Jesus. In our efforts to "do things" for God we often forget that hearing His words, studying them, and praying over them is sometimes more important than our actions.
The Blind Man’s Testimony: Spiritual Sight Restored (John 9:25)
In John 9:25, we read the story of the man born blind. The Lord restored his vision, but when the Pharisees questioned him asking if Jesus was a sinner, the man cried out that the "one thing" he knew was that he once was blind but now could see. As Jesus explains in this chapter, the Pharisees suffered from spiritual blindness, not physical blindness like the man born blind.
As John Newton's stirring hymn, Amazing Grace, reminds us. "I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see." All of us experienced spiritual blindness before we became a Christian. Now the "one thing" we know is that Christ has opened our eyes to let us see our need for Him above everything.
Paul’s Focus on Pressing Toward the Goal (Philippians 3:13-14)
Paul declares in Philippians 3:13-14, that the "one thing" he does is press towards the goal, for the prize of the upward call of God, in Jesus. Paul's focus is on what he can do today, and the rest of his life, to live for Christ. Paul compares himself to a runner in a race. His goal is to know Jesus and be like Him as much as possible. The word 'press' in this verse means to actively pursue our Lord so as to be sanctified to Him, to be set apart and holy, for God.
The Common Theme: Seeking God Above All Else
In these examples, we see that the "one thing" needed is always similar. For David, it was to be with God. For Mary, it was to listen to Him. For the man born blind, it was to see, spiritually and physically. For Paul, it was to keep pressing onward in his journey of faith. And for the sad rich young ruler, it was understanding what mattered most in his life. In each case, the ‘one thing’ was what they valued above everything else.
The Most Important 'One Thing'
We can place ourselves in these stories and ask similar questions: Do we want to be with God; listen to Him; see our spiritual need; keep pressing to be more like Him; and examine our life to see what is truly important to us? As Paul continues on to say in Philippians 4:1:
"My beloved, stand firm in the Lord."
What is your life, if it isn't lived for God? In all that we do seek Jesus, our eternal hope. That is the "one thing" that will always matter the most.
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