My One Thing

Everybody I know says they need just one thing
And what they really mean is that they need just one thing more
And everybody seems to think they’ve got it coming
Well I know that I don’t deserve You
Still I want to love and serve You more and more
You’re my one thing

The opening stanza to Rich’s 1989 song My One Thing says that you can chase after whatever you wish, and it will never satisfy.  Once you gain whatever you seek, you will be looking for the next “one thing.”  But, if you make that One thing Jesus, then you will find something that satisfies. 

but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. (John 4:14 ESV)

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.” (John 6:35 ESV)

If Christ is your One Thing, and If He truly satisfies, then it is a waste of time to be chasing other things.  I’m not saying that you shouldn’t desire other things.  However, I am saying that the central focus of your life needs to be on Christ.  Everything else comes as good gifts from a father.

Do not worry then, saying, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear for clothing?’ For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you. (Matt. 6:31-33 NASB)

Delight yourself in the Lord;
And He will give you the desires of your heart.  (Ps. 37:4 NASB)

When you are constantly striving to attain the next one thing, then you are truly living in the moment.  Looking for satisfaction right now, and once you achieve it, you need something else, the next one thing, to satisfy.  Mattew West wrote a song titled Live Forever where he addresses this directly: 

I don’t wanna live for now
I don’t wanna live for now
I wanna live forever
I wanna live forever
I just wanna make it count
I don’t wanna live for now
I wanna live forever
I wanna live forever starting now

Choosing Christ as your One Thing is a decision to live for the future, starting right now.  It is a decision that must be made in your heart.

In the Sermon on the Mount, the section known as the beatitudes, Christ says:

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  (Matt. 5:8 NASB)

A pure heart only comes from God.  It comes from being in a right relationship with Christ.  The Bible tells us that no one is righteous, no one does good (Rom. 3:10-12).  Yet, we can have a pure heart because it comes from God:

Create in me a pure heart, O God,
    and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Ps. 51:10 NIV)

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will remove your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. (Ezek. 36:26 HCSB)

Then God charges you to “Be Holy.”  How can you be holy?  Because He is holy, and He has placed a new heart, a pure heart inside of you.

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My One Thing

Everybody I know says they need just one thing
And what they really mean is that they need just one thing more
And everybody seems to think they’ve got it coming
Well I know that I don’t deserve You
Still I want to love and serve You more and more
You’re my one thing

Save me from those things that might distract me
Please take them away and purify my heart
I don’t want to lose the eternal for the things that are passing
‘Cause what will I have when the world is gone
If it isn’t for the love that goes on and on with

My one thing
You’re my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God
You’re my one thing
You’re my one thing
And the pure in heart shall see God

Who have I in Heaven but You Jesus
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth
I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world but I’d just be wasting my time
‘Cause I’m certain already I’m sure I’d find

You’re my one thing (one thing)
You’re my one thing (one thing)
And the pure in heart shall see God
You’re my one thing (one thing)
You’re my one thing (one thing)
And the pure in heart shall see God

Every night and every day
You hold on tight
Or you drift away
And you’re left to live
With the choices you make
Oh Lord please give me the strength
To watch and work and love and sing and pray

‘Cause who have I in Heaven but You Jesus
And what better could I hope to find down here on earth
Well I could cross the most distant reaches
Of this world but I’d just be wasting my time
‘Cause I’m certain already I’m sure I’d find

You’re my one thing (one thing)
You’re my one thing (one thing)
And the pure in heart shall see God
You’re my one thing (one thing)
You’re my one thing (one thing)
And the pure in heart shall see God
You’re my one thing
One thing
You’re my one thing
The pure in heart the pure in heart
One thing
And I know that the pure
That the pure in heart (that the pure in heart shall see God)
And I know that the pure in heart shall see God
And I know that the pure
That the pure in heart (that the pure in heart shall see God)
And I know that the pure in heart shall see God
And I know that the pure
That the pure in heart (that the pure in heart shall see God)
And I know that the pure in heart shall see God
That the pure in heart (that the pure in heart shall see God)
And I know that the pure in heart shall see God