In 1991, the movie City Slickers came out about three unhappy friends from Manhattan who decide to go on a cattle drive in the southwest. It’s here that the main character, Mitch Collins, played by Billy Crystal, meets the tough and grizzled trail boss named Curly, played by the famous Jack Palance. Mitch, in search of meaning, is told by Curly that the secret to life is “one thing.” I still remember the scene when Curly answers Mitch’s question about the meaning of life. Curly holds up one finger. Mitch says something like “the secret of life is your finger?” Then Curly growls, “One thing!”
The secret to happiness in life is one thing! I am beginning to understand this more and more. It began when I read a little book called One Word That Will Change Your Life by Jon Gordon, Dan Britton and Jimmy Page. The book addresses the issue of how we fail to achieve our goals because we make them too big and too complicated. They offer a process that helps you come up with one word that captures what God is calling you to pursue for the year. This discipline of focus has been very fruitful for me. Since 2017 I have had my one word. This year’s word for me is “grow”.
Most recently, I read another book called The 4 Disciplines of Execution – Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey and Jim Huling. Although it is a business focused book, it follows the same principle. Businesses that want to be innovative and grow have to work a process to find their Wildly Important Goal or WIG. The authors argue that the enemy of growth and innovation is the whirlwind of doing daily business. So find the one thing that has the greatest impact that you can give your limited time and attention to and go for that. It is a process that works. I have applied the principles to our ministry, and I am amazed at the results!
I know that many feel overwhelmed and discouraged with their lives these days. There is so much going on, there are so many things to choose, so many things to eat up your time. It may feel like you are spinning your wheels and going nowhere. The pursuit of meaning and purpose has become a hot topic, especially after going through the pandemic and the turmoil of the last three years. There is a serious search for significance. There is a lot of discontent, dissatisfaction, and discouragement. I believe the motivation for the “great resignation” in the work force is this feeling that life is short, every day is a one-time gift, and we don’t want to waste it.
But making a move aimlessly is not the answer. I recently read an article reporting how many of the workers who quit their jobs in search of meaning are now regretting it. The move cost them more than they imagined and led them to a place not as fulfilling as they had hoped. Movement without direction is just movement! The key is to find that ‘one thing’ and go towards that.
So what is your one thing? How would you summarize your life purpose in one sentence or one word? And make sure that you answer that question not just in theory. Look at the trajectory of your life, where is it headed? What do you invest most of yourself pursuing? Your time, money and efforts.
Here’s the hard truth. If you don’t decide your one thing, your one thing will be decided for you. God has given us the gift of choice, decision, and creativity. Life is a journey made up of a series of steps. Those steps are decisions, actions, and habits. Andy Stanley said, “Direction, not intention, determines your destination.”
What is your one thing?
Jesus was a ‘one thing’ proponent. When he was asked which of the many commandments from God was the most important, this is what he said:
37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ i 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ j 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 (NIV)
The one thing according to Jesus was this: Love God, Love people. One thing with two parts. Love God with everything you have. Make honoring God your highest life priority and express that by loving people with God’s kind of love. If loving God, loving people is your one thing, according to Jesus, you will be right with God. You will have the joy in life that God gives.
So what does loving God, loving people look like in real life? I am thankful that scripture provides us with a picture. It is called the church. Living in the community of the church.
42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. 46 Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, 47 praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)
The church is a community of Jesus followers who:
- Reach out to others with the good news appeal – “You can be right with God through faith in Jesus.” At Mount Carmel, we summarize this in one word – Baptism.
- Engage in community where you learn and live scripture together. Church is not about just Bible study. It is about Bible living. The church is not an academic institution; we are a Bible vocational school. At Mount Carmel, we summarize this in one word – Groups.
- Use the gifts God gives in order to bless others. The Holy Spirit of God lives within the church, the people. Love is a verb! It is action that does what is best for others, even if it means sacrifice. When God is at work through his people, good works will be the story line. At Mount Carmel, we summarize this in one phrase – Generous living.
There is no greater ‘one thing’ than to love God, and love people. Will you make it yours?
