All throughout history, poets and philosophers have tried to sum up the meaning of life. Can all the complexities, the intricacies, the grandeur and the minutia be reduced to one single idea, one phrase, one pursuit?
Is there “one thing” that life is all about?
Some years ago, I did a little search through the Bible of the phrase “one thing”. Some references were obviously significant within the context of its story or setting, but were not a comment on the purpose for our existence. However, there were four instances in very familiar passages that provide insight into what our primary passion is to be. (All the italics are added.)
In Psalm 27:4, David prays, “One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and seek him in his holy temple.”
In Luke 10:41-42, after Martha urges Jesus to reprimand her sister for leaving all the work to her and choosing instead to sit at His feet, Jesus replies, “Martha, Martha…you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”
In Luke 18:22, the rich young ruler, after asking what he must do to inherit eternal life, and hearing Christ’s question in response about the ten commandments, assures Jesus that he has kept each of the commandments since he was a boy. Hearing this, the Lord looks at him, knowing that the ruler has fallen into the classic pitfall of wealth by allowing his possessions to possess him, and says: “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come follow me.”
In Philippians 3:10-13, Paul asserts that his one, overarching ambition is to know Christ. He says, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining to what is ahead, I press on toward [that] goal.”
In all of these instances, Christ is the object.
He is the One Thing desired, the One with Whom David wishes to dwell. It is His beauty David wishes to gaze upon. It is His face he wants to seek.
He is the One Thing Who is necessary and lasting. It was by listening to His words and sitting at His feet that Mary engaged in the eternal and the meaningful.
He is the One Thing lacking in the ruler’s life. It was His lordship that the ruler failed to recognize, the captivation of his heart by Christ that remained absent from his religion.
He is the One Thing pursued, the purpose of Paul’s life and calling. It is Christ that is Paul’s reason for existence, the knowledge of Whom defines his daily, passionate pursuit. Communion with Him, friendship with Him, abandonment to Him, passion for Him.
It is Jesus whom we desire, Jesus whom we need, Jesus we lack, and Jesus we must pursue in every activity of every day. Christ is the Supreme, the All-sufficient, the All-desirable. He is The One Thing.
When we look to the Scriptures to show us the one thing our life is about, we are clearly directed to Christ. The task for us is to give Christ this preeminence in our lives, to allow Him to be the central focus, the organizing force in our life. Over all other desires, let Him be desired. Amidst the busy rush and loud clamor for our attention, we must remember that only One is necessary and lasting.
At the core of all our good works and service, give Christ the ownership of our lives, so that through it all He is the One we are living for. In a world of ambition and dreams, may our hearts be purified to seek knowing Him as life’s greatest pursuit.
Love it, Pastor! And consider John 9:25: Jesus is the one thing we know.
That was the one big takeaway I got from Os Guinness' book, The Call. What is our primary calling (and life's purpose)? To follow Jesus. Everything else will flow from that.