The One Thing
As I sit in my office and type this out, I feel overwhelmed with the work that yet needs to be done, stuff that should be done, stuff I know won’t get done, and more stuff I’m working on that really doesn’t need to get done, but still occupies my attention and energy. And as I sit here, I’m hopeful that, as I recognize this, that I will actually do something about it and give proper attention to the things that REALLY matter. Isn’t the Christmas season generally like this for most of us? I mean we get caught up in the rush of the season, and in the midst of preparing to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, our emotions and energy get sucked dry in the mundane rituals.
I hope we’re not like the religious leaders in the Temple…in Luke 2 we see a portrait of life seemingly normal for most when Jesus is brought to the temple in Jerusalem, barely 8 miles from the fields of Bethlehem where He was born eight days prior. We read of no religious leaders from Jerusalem going to visit, although word was spreading pretty quickly from the Shepherds and three wise guys! There were two, however, who didn’t miss out on giving proper attention to Christmas, as they were overwhelmed with the discovery, and they did their best to share the news with anyone who would listen…you can read about that in Luke 2:21-38.
This doesn’t just happen during the Christmas season, as this is something we battle on a daily basis…giving proper attention and focus to the things that matter most, and not letting the ‘little things” run us ragged, sucking away the enthusiasm and energy reserved for the “main things.” What are those main things…and if we dig deeper…what is THE main thing? What is the one thing in our life that should never have its attention, focus and priority overlooked and replaced by other things in our lives? Our family…careers…money…God…education…??? I encourage you to read the account of Mary and Martha having Jesus over for dinner…what kinds of priorities and attitudes are displayed, and what the ONE thing was that Jesus was talking about. You can find it in Luke 10:38- 42.
Hopefully, this Christmas season, and all throughout the year, we won’t get in the habit of letting all the “little” things squeeze out the focus on the ONE thing that matters most. Everything else is okay, but not the end in themselves, and certainly not worthy to replace our Lord and King. I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Talk About It…
What’s the one thing your life is about?
What does it mean to really worship God? How can we make everyday activities acts of worship?
What do you think God’s will is for your life? Is there just one will for everyone?
#1 from Nancy W. on January 05, 2010
Good Morning Shawn,
To your question: What’s the one thing your life is about?
I pretty much guess that if you had 100 people answer this question, you would get 100 different answers. I’m guessing a person will likely answer this question according to their needs and situation at the time but here is what I think.
When I was a child my life was about freedom, playing and having fun. When I was a teenager life was about boys. When I was a young adult, life was about getting married and settling down. When I was married I thought it was about having children. When I was mid thirties I (we) thought life was about maxing out credit cards, having a nice house and a lot of expensive toys. When I became a single parent life was about survival. When I was free of parenting (as free as one really ever is) life was about adventure. When I grew tired of adventure and discovered it wasn’t about anything I had experienced at all ... fun, boys, marriage, children, work, nice house, adventure or anything else that brought pleasure, low and behold, I realized it was about God.
Is this story sounding a little bit like Ecclesiastes? Unfortunately most of us don’t really discover the answer to this question until we’ve squandered away most of our energy and time on things that will never amount to much for eternity anyway. Yes, some eternal good happened along the way but what I really discovered is, just like the wise preacher said, life is to “Fear God and keep His commandments.” Words to Israel in Deuteronomy 10:12-13 are also applicable to the individual “...what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lords commandments ...”.
Some of us follow God until we decide it isn’t fun anymore; that was me for a lot of years. I still have not learned to follow God completely, internally.
This morning I read in my Oswald Chambers devotional, in reference to the Peter:
“The first “Follow Me” had nothing mystical in it, it was an external following; now it is a following in internal martyrdom (cf. John 21:18).
All our vows and resolutions end in denial because we have no power to carry them out. When we have come to the end of ourselves, not in imagination but really, we are able to receive the Holy Spirit. “Receive ye the Holy Ghost” - the idea is that of invasion. There is only one lodestar in the life now, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
It’s not an easy journey. Self-evaluation at the end of the day can be very revealing; not for the purpose of beating self up but for the purpose of understanding and appreciating God’s grace and knowing that there will be days that are more productive than others. I though, like Peter, long to come to the end of myself in order to say along with OC, “There is only one lodestar in the life now, the Lord Jesus Christ.”