In the scriptures, there are a number of occurrences of the phrase, “one thing.” Let’s take a look at some of them, in no particular order, and briefly comment.
One Thing have I desired…
“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 inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)
It is interesting to compare this Psalm of David with Paul, the apostle, when he was on the Damascus road (Acts chapters 9 and 22). We read these words – “there shined round about him a light from heaven, and he fell to the earth and heard a voice speaking to him.” He said “Who art thou, Lord?” and moments later said, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?”
In Psalm 27, “To behold the beauty of the Lord” parallels with “Who art Thou, Lord?;” “To inquire in his temple,” parallels with “What wilt thou have me to do?”
After that encounter with the Lord on the road to Damascus, Paul spent the rest of his life getting to know who God is and what He wanted Paul to do.
We, likewise, should be doing the same – devoting time to getting to know the Lord (Who art thou?) and seeking His direction and will for our lives (What wilt thou have me to do?). It’s no secret that this requires engagement in reading, studying and meditating on the Scriptures as well as spending time in prayer.
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One Thing thou lackest…
“And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, one thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.”
“And Jesus looked round about, and saith unto his disciples, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! And the disciples were astonished at his words. But Jesus answereth again, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. And they were astonished out of measure, saying among themselves, Who then can be saved? And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:17-27)
In this account of the rich young man, he speaks of himself and how he had lived such a law-abiding life having obeyed the ten commandments and so on. But, the Lord Jesus said he lacked ONE thing – and that was for him to sell whatever he had and give to the poor. The scripture says, “he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions.” At that moment, he made a conscious decision to not follow the Lord Jesus Christ as his possessions meant more to him than his own soul. The Lord tested him which exposed the condition of his heart. “For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.” (Matthew 6:21)
We are also reminded of the words of Jim Elliott, one of five missionaries that was martyred in 1956 trying to reach those in the deep jungles of Ecuador – “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”
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One Thing I know…
You will recall the account in John 9 where the Lord Jesus saw a man who was born blind. He made clay and anointed his eyes and told him to go wash in the pool of Siloam. The blind man obeyed the Lord, “washed and came seeing.”
He was asked by the neighbors and others, “How were thine eyes opened? He answered and said a man that is called Jesus made clay, and anointed my eyes, and said unto me, Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash: and I went and washed, and I received sight.” The Pharisees also asked him and he gave the same testimony.
They did not believe him that he was born blind so they called the parents. They said this is our son and he was born blind.
“Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man [referring to Jesus] is a sinner. He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see. (John 9:24-25)
This reminds us of a court trial. There are witnesses – those that saw or heard something related to the crime. What does a witness do? He is asked to give his testimony. The testimony is comprised of what he saw and what he knows. This is what we have here – a witness – the blind man who gives his testimony. He only knew ONE thing – “whereas I was blind, now I see.”
A person who just embraced Jesus as their Lord and Saviour does not know much either.
He or she might say, “I was on my way to hell, but now I’m on my way to heaven.”
Another may say, “I am saved from eternal punishment and death. Jesus died for me and my sins are forgiven. He saved me and has given me eternal life.”
The point is, each new believer may not know much, but the little they know is their testimony and it is real to them. That is all they can tell others until they learn more as they read and study the Word of God.
Click here for Part 2.
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