Back in June 1991, I remember watching a movie called City Slickers. At one point in the movie, cowboy Curly asks city-slicker Mitch this question: Do you know what the secret of life is? Curly followed his question by stating that it is just one thing. Mitch then asked Curly, what is the one thing? And Curly said that is what you need to figure out.
Have you figured it out? If you could pick only one thing to stay focused on, what would it be?
Apostle Paul
Paul concluded that the one thing is Jesus Christ. Specifically, Paul said, “Indeed I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…” (Philippians 3:8).
Jesus Christ
What did Jesus himself say was the one thing? For His answer, we need to read the account of Jesus visiting Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38-42). We discover that Martha was anxious and troubled about many things, but Jesus told her that one thing is needed. And then Jesus tells Martha that Mary chose the one thing—spending time with Him.
Here are three additional reasons why Jesus is the one thing:
1. His seven I AM statements.
His statements tell us He is the one thing. Jesus does not say He is one of many things. Instead, in each of His I AM statements, Jesus tells us that He is the one thing.
- I am the bread of life (John 6:35, 48, 51)
- I am the light of the world (John 8:12; 9:5)
- I am the door (John 10:7,9)
- I am the good shepherd (John 10:11,14)
- I am the resurrection and the life (John 11:25)
- I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but by me (John 14:6). (Note: we have salvation only in Jesus. God’s Word tells us, “And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
- I am the vine (John 15:1, 5). (Note: Jesus doesn’t say that he is one of many vines. No. He is the vine from where we as the branches obtain our nourishment to produce fruit. Therefore, Jesus is the “one thing” that we need to plug into every day. And we need to ensure that we remain plugged in). Jesus says it best when He said, “…Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5).
2. Our advocate and mediator.
Jesus is our one and only advocate and mediator who pleads our case before God, The Father (1 John 2:1) (1Timothy 2:5).
3. Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge.
Regarding Jesus, God’s Word tells us “…in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Consequently, the only way to discover all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge is to make Jesus your one thing. And you make Jesus your one thing by spending time with Him throughout each day by involving Him in your life, praying, reading God’s Word, meditating on His Word, and loving and serving people.