Life is complicated, we have so many things to take care of and we do not always have time for everything. When two people fall in love, suddenly there is time for everything. There is a saying, “When there is a will, there is a way.” If a person wants something badly enough, often he will be able to get it.
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13–14
Here Paul says, “This one thing I do…” All his strength, his mind, and his striving, was for one thing only. All his time, effort, and talents, were spent for one thing. He had forgotten his past, his defeats as well as victories, and also his many experiences. Yesterday’s victories are not sufficient for today. He was reaching forth for the things that were before him. He pressed toward the mark as a man running a race. He kept his eyes fixed on the goal, without looking to the right or to the left. No other interest, no time for unnecessary work. No wasting precious time. Every fiber in his body was taxed to reach the goal. If you want salvation as your only goal, you will gain it. Paul had no divided interests. He put all on the altar, and he succeeded.
Have you ever admired a beautiful painting? The colours are so natural. You may say, “I wish I could paint like this.” How is it done? You hear of many famous artists, how dedicated they are to their work. Great painters often neglect to eat properly or to sleep. They stay in their studio day after day. They often do not care what happens around them. Only one thing is important to them, and when all the focus is concentrated into one interest, they will be successful. They will produce beautiful paintings that others admire and pay fortunes to buy. These paintings came from the hand of an artist who put his all into it. Not just days, but years—a lifetime.
You hear beautiful music, great musicians playing. It captivates the mind. People pay money to attend concerts of these famous musicians performing. Many children, when they hear the music, say, “I want to learn to play music like this.” So, the parents go out and buy an instrument such as a piano or violin, and enroll their child into music lessons. Then begins the practice for hours every day. Other children are playing ball outside, having fun. And, soon the desire dies out. The child says, “Who cares about music? It is too hard. I will never learn to play.”
This is the reason why there are so few great artists, because so few are willing to dedicate their all to it. Some may try an instrument for a while, and then switch to something else. Soon he can play a dozen instruments—but is he any good at any of them? Very seldom.
Let us consider some businessmen who work day and night; they ruin their health and risk death, just to make money. Often they have heart attacks before they retire. Some are successful, whereas others end up in bankruptcy.
A mountain climber risks his life to reach the top of a high mountain. Why? What for? Often for fame and earthly glory. Men have crossed oceans in little boats. They have challenged the odds to become famous, to do something that others have not been able to do.
An athlete practices for hours and hours, taking care of his body to be able to run the race well, in order to obtain another trophy for his collection.
All of these have one purpose, one goal. The singleness of purpose is the secret of success.
In the Christian life, the same applies. A divided interest is weakness, whereas singleness of purpose is strength. “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to Him, and said, Lord, dost Thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things. But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:40–42. What was this one thing with Mary? It was to sit at the feet of Jesus and to listen to His words.
Jesus came to the home of Mary and Martha with all His disciples. They were probably all tired and hungry. Martha, being very hospitable tried to provide all the necessary comforts and food for everyone. But, Mary just sat at the feet of Jesus as He was teaching His disciples. There was a meeting, with Jesus as the speaker, and Martha lost the blessing.
This world is filled with work, and duties to perform. We could be busy from morning until night, seven days a week, and the work would never end. Jesus could have said, “two things are needful, to serve visitors, and to listen to His words. Martha would have felt better. But no, Jesus said, “One thing is needful.”
Someone else had the same desire as Mary. “One thing have I 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.” Psalm 27:4
David had only one desire. He could have desired many things—peace among countries, riches, honour, comforts, wisdom. No, David had only one desire and that was so that he may dwell in the house of God all the days of his life. Being a king meant that he had a very busy life. He was a judge, an army general, and looking after the affairs of the nation was a full time job. Still he had time to go to the temple to behold the beauty of the Lord, and learn of God.
David had only one goal in his life, one purpose and went on to say, “For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.” Psalm 84:10. One day in God’s temple was better than 1,000 days somewhere else. Is this your desire also?
“Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” Matthew 6:31–34
Seek ye first the kingdom of God. The first in our life. How do we seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness? It is through Bible study, prayer, attending meetings, meditating, and obeying His commandments.
“Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto Me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.” Isaiah 55:2. Why spend money on needless things, and labour for things that do not really satisfy?
“Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” Luke 8:11–14
The cares of this life choke the little plants of love in the heart; and, therefore, love to God cannot grow.
Today’s man has two problems, and both have to do with time. Man has no time to study the Bible, to seek God, to prepare himself for the coming of the Lord, or to do missionary work—too busy.
The second problem is boredom, nothing to do, life is uninteresting, dull. To kill time they spend it in reading, shows, entertainment, and in pleasure-seeking. Idleness is a curse; it leads to evil, to sin.
If we let the Lord organize our lives, He will show us how to reorganize our lives, making time for needful things. If we seek the Lord the way David did, we can say “Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.” Psalm 23:5–6
David had learned another lesson: “He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom He loved.” Psalm 47:4. The Lord will choose an inheritance for us in this life already. He know us and loves us. We are stewards of His goods. Which is easier? To be a faithful steward over one talent or over five talents? Many talented people become unfaithful and forget God.
Jesus spoke of singleness of purpose. “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
In the next verse He continues, “Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?” Matthew 6:25
What is Jesus explaining in these two verses? He is telling us that it is impossible to serve two masters. Worrying for our lives means serving two masters. If we try to serve two masters, we lose both of them. God cannot bless us or protect us. We are not fully enjoying the world and its pleasures.
In the lives of all men there are ups and downs, happy days and sad days, good luck and misfortune. But, in the life of a Christian there is only one mood. “Rejoice evermore.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand
there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11
In the life of a true Christian there will not be so many downs, only ups—continually reaching higher and higher, drawing closer to God, nearer to heaven, to greater happiness and joy.
Why then are there sad, gloomy, unhappy Christians? “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are upright in heart.” Psalm 32:10–11
The rich, young man went away sorrowful. He needed one more thing in order for his joy to be full. He had kept all the commandments all his life, yet still he was sorrowful, insecure about his salvation.
What about the trials, tests, and persecution in a Christian’s life? What made Abraham so great that he was called the “father of faith”? It was the sacrifice he was willing to make; he offered his son as a sacrifice. Abraham lived 175 years. He was wealthy and respected by all. but the greatest test of his life took three days.
Daniel is famous for being in the lion’s den for one night. He was also wealthy. He was a respected statesman. He was the prime minister before and after his test.
Joseph was the favourite son of his father while at home. He ended up being cast into prison. But only for a little while, then he was exalted above all his brothers.
“Come, and let us return unto the LORD: for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the LORD: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth.” Hosea 6:1–3
Even though the Lord has torn, He will heal the smitten, He will bind them up. How soon? After two days. If we follow the Lord, our going forth is prepared as the morning. He is like the sunshine and the rain. Jesus, the Sun of righteousness will shine upon us. The Holy Spirit will refresh us like the rain.
Job was a wealthy man, the greatest of all the men in the East. He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 yoke of oxen, and a very great household. And then he lost it all for a time.
“So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses. He had also seven sons and three daughters.” Job 42:12–13. The amount of his livestock doubled after he lost everything. The Lord blessed him for his faithfulness throughout the trial.
“Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness. For His anger endureth but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalm 30:4–5. The Lord’s anger is short towards us.
While we are tried and tested, what will the Lord do? “Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” Deuteronomy 33:25. The Lord gives strength to the weak.
“To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He might be glorified.” Isaiah 61:3. All that we must endure is for a reason. It is to purify our characters.
We may have to forsake something when we follow Jesus. “And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for My name’s sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.” Matthew 19:29. When we forsake our sins and idols for Jesus’ sake, we receive something 100 times better. The Lord is good. He loves His children dearly. He wants us to be happy, rejoicing every day.
There are two kinds of Christians, two classes of professors of religion—not good, better, or best. But, saved and unsaved. Those that are saved are happy, joyful and smiling. They love God. They love their fellowmen. Those that are still unsaved are often perplexed, sad, distressed, confused, critical, fault-finding, fanatical.
The Pharisees were a very religious sect, strict in outward ceremonies. But, they did not have the sweet love of Jesus in their hearts. With the love of Jesus in the heart, we will be like a compass. It does not matter where it is positioned, it always points towards the north.
What is in the north? “For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.” Isaiah 14:13. These verses refer to Lucifer; however, we see here that in the north is the throne of God.
Wherever we are we should always point to God—seek Him, follow Him—to have one purpose in life. One Master, one Shepherd to follow, one God, and to reflect Christ’s character. One plan to save souls.
One thing is needful; if you find it, accept it. All other things shall be added unto you besides. Amen.
Adapted from a sermon by Timo Martin