Are You a One Thing Person?

This week I’m focused on my priorities are–relative to my ministry. My ministry is One Thing, but it is not my life. I set my ministry priorities below a lot of other things.

A lot of “stuff” is going on in my life, and as it does, right now I find myself asking, how does this fit into my priorities overall?

If people guessed my one thing based on my activity, they would probably say my one thing is Color Guard. After all, I spend a lot of time at football games, competitions, volunteering with parents, working with other Guard moms on special gifts for the girls, etc. But Guard is not my life. It pretty much is for my girls, and I love having a hand in it. But it is not my one thing.

This is the order of how I want my priorities to look:

1. My relationship with the Lord
2. My husband, then my children
3. Ministry activities 

Family trumps ministry in my world. For me, that is the right call. Even when my “family thing” is doing something for Guard.

Still, I must know what my one thing–overall–is. As usual, the Bible tells us how things should line up.

What Is Your One Thing?

One day, a young rich man asked Jesus what to do in order to have eternal life. With great compassion, He told him,

“There is still one thing you haven’t done,” he told him. “Go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (Mark 10:21) [Emphasis added.]

This young man had high character; he had obeyed all of the commandments since childhood. But he wanted to know what other actions he needed to do. Jesus addressed his heart, and when He did, the young man walked away sad. He loved his wealth more than he loved the Lord.

Although I say that the Lord is my first priority, I must ask, Is there one thing, I haven’t done that is keeping me from my real one thing? Or, how do I spend my chunks of time? 

How much TV am I watching? How much time do I spend putting together a jigsaw puzzle on my iPad? How much time do I spend reading? Certainly these are ok to some degree. But have they become time-wasters? Does the amount of time I spend on those indicate that I am not truly focused on my one thing?

Mary had it right.   Jesus told Martha …

My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:41-42) [Emphasis added.]

Paul had it right.

Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord…I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (Philippians 3:8,13-14) [Emphasis added.]

In Trusting in the Names of God, Catherine Martin quotes F. B. Meyer, “‘One thing’ people are irresistible.”

Who do you know who is a one thing person? What’s it like being around them? Those I know are passionate about their one thing. They talk about it a lot! And when they do, instead of annoying you with their jibber-jabber, they draw you into their excitement, making you want to be a part of it. They are magnetic.

I want to be like that!
I want people to be irresistibly drawn to Christ in me! But that means, my one thing … must … be … Christ!

My other thing is writing. How that works out in my schedule depends on what is going on in my life and the priorities that come before it. But I do know that Jesus gave me a key.

So do not worry, saying, “What shall we eat?” or “What shall we drink?” or “What shall we wear?” For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:31-34 NIV)

When I am seeking the Lord with my whole heart, even in the midst of chaos, He will ensure that I have time for the ministry He has given me. It will take some planning and discipline on my part; it won’t happen magically. But He will see to it that it can happen. And when I mess up and get too busy, He gives second chances.  🙂

How about you? How would others describe your one thing based on how you spend/invest your large chunks of time?
Are you like the young man who went away sad because He loved something better than Jesus? Or are you like Mary, who discovered the most important thing?