This One Thing I Do - Ben Bailey

This One Thing I Do

            I recently came across a quote that at first struck me as kind of odd and maybe even selfish, but the more I thought about it the more I realized there was an important gem of wisdom in it that needs to be lived.  Here is the quote.  Warren Buffett once said, "The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say ‘no’ to almost everything."  Initially this sounds kind of selfish.  However, when you take a little time to think about the point it’s not selfishness but single-minded focus that’s being exalted.  And that is definitely an idea that God Himself exalts in Scripture.

            The Apostle Paul stated this truth about as plainly as anyone in Scripture when he said: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 3:13-14).  The one thing that took most of Paul’s attention, time, focus and energy above all else was going to Heaven. 

            When Jesus spoke to the Rich Young Ruler, who had all the potential in the world to be successful spiritually, Jesus pointed out his lack of single-minded focus.  Jesus said to this young man, “one thing you lack” (Mark 10:21).  That man could never really be successful spiritually because his great possessions would always be in the way!

            Do you remember when Martha came to Jesus to get Him to instruct her sister to help her with some of the chores?  Martha’s request to Jesus is “tell her then to help me” (Luke 10:40).    Jesus lovingly said to Martha, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary” (Luke 10:41-42).  Serving was not a bad thing, but at that moment when the Master Teacher is in your home learning was priority number one!

            The Scripture so beautifully states this single-minded focus in Psalm 27.  The Holy Spirit says, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, That will I seek: 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 inquire in His temple” (Ps. 27:4). For David, dwelling in God’s house and with God was the one thing that was more important than anything else.

            What about me and you today?  In our fast-paced notification crazy world it seems like we are being pulled from and to so many different directions that sometimes it makes your head spin.  Like Mr. Buffett said, we need to learn to say no to everything else but one thing—putting God first.  May God help us to have a single-minded focus and to put everything else behind that!