What is your typical response when you face challenging circumstances? Admittedly it can become quite stressful. King David faced his share of challenging and even dangerous situations. He describes one such situation in Psalm 27,

When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, my adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though a host encamp against me, my heart will not fear; though war arise against me, in spite of this I shall be confident. (Psalm 27:2-3)

How could David keep his confidence and composure in the face of life-threatening circumstances? Rather than focusing on the problems, David chose to focus on his God. Note David’s desire to be with God in the next verse,

One thing I have asked from the LORD, that I shall 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 meditate in His temple. (Psalm 27:4)

David gives us an example of single-mindedness in his devotion to God. What is the “one thing” most important in your life? It’s been said that the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. We have a proclivity to become sidetracked with peripheral issues.

We see the importance of a single-minded focus on God throughout the Scriptures. In the Gospel of Luke, Mary demonstrates this principle as she is sitting at the feet of Jesus. Martha thinks her sister should be helping with the dinner preparation and she lets Jesus know her displeasure. Jesus responds,

“Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:41-42)

Do you realize that good may be the enemy of best? Consider the man born blind in John 9. When the Pharisees questioned him,

He therefore answered, “Whether He is a sinner, I do not know; one thing I do know, though I was blind, now I see.” (John 9:25)

Jesus radically changed the man’s life and he couldn’t help but testify about it. What is the one thing that you know? Paul demonstrated a single-minded purpose as he encouraged the Philippians,

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, (Philippians 3:10)

You can’t go forward while concentrating on the rear-view mirror. A Chinese proverb states, “if you chase two rabbits, both will escape.” A failure to have the proper focus can cause us to miss the ultimate treasure as Jesus spoke with the rich young ruler,

Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him and said to him, “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.” (Mark 10:21)

What did he lack – the Bible says he was wealthy? The one thing he lacked was keeping God first in his life. What is the one thing Jesus would say you lack? Søren Kierkegaard declares that “purity of heart Is to will one thing”.

Seneca points out that “When a man does not know what harbor he is making for, no wind is the right wind.” What is the one thing that God has for you? One of the dangers of being well-rounded is that you may not be sharp at anything. If you are able to do a lot of things fairly well, you will not have time to learn to do one thing extremely well.

When you make God your first response rather than your last resort you, like David, will be able to dwell in safety.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Chu,rch at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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