One Thing

“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 to seek Him in His temple.”  Psalm 27:4

If you could ask God what He desires most from you, what do you think He would say? Would it be for you to give more, serve more, or share your faith more? Would He ask that you become more involved in church activities, join a church family, or attend more regularly? Do you think, at the end of the day, that God wants you to do more for Him?

It’s a great question to consider, but one that many Christians answer incorrectly. Convinced that God is most pleased by what they do, countless Christians determine to work harder. Our human instinct is to want to work to earn God’s favor. Such a system makes sense to us, doesn’t it? The problem is, it is impossible. The good news is that salvation is by grace, through faith, and not by works (Ephesians 2:8).

Did you know there are a few instances recorded in the Bible when Jesus told His followers what “one thing” He most desired? When the rich young ruler came to Jesus to inquire about eternal life, Jesus lovingly told him that he lacked one thing. “Go, sell everything you own and give it to the poor. Then, come follow Me,” Jesus told him. Was Jesus telling him to work for salvation? Of course not. He was, however, telling him to abandon everything for His sake. There could be nothing of more value in the young ruler’s life than Jesus. Scripture tells us that the man went away sad because he was wealthy. He was unwilling to give up all he had to follow Jesus.

And then there were the two sisters, Mary and Martha. When Jesus came to their home to dine, Martha was busy in the kitchen working to serve her Lord. She became frustrated with her sister, who was “just sitting” with Jesus, not doing any work. Martha asks Jesus to make Mary help her, and what does Jesus say, ”Only one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42). I’m sure this was not the answer Martha expected.

How many of us are busy in the kitchen, yet missing the one thing that is needed? And what is the one thing that Jesus meant? While Jesus never came right out and said, He did give us glaring evidence of what God most desires. Even all the way back in the Old Testament, there was one thing God desired most. The first commandment God gave to His people, Israel, was, “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt…you shall have no other gods before Me” (Exodus 20:2-3). In other words, “Love Me more than you love anything else.”

When asked by the Pharisees which was the greatest commandment of all, Jesus saw through their trick and answered, “Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). So my question is this: What one thing are you seeking? If it’s not Jesus, you are missing out on the great purpose for which you have been created.

Father, I only ask for one thing today, and that is a deeper longing for Jesus Christ.  Please show me how to seek Him above all else. In Jesus’ name, amen.