Thoughts from Pastor Dave

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This article originally appeared in the March 2006 Gold Canyon Lifestyle

Jesus Alone
Pastor Dave Abbatacola

Can success in life really be boiled down to “one thing”? Is there a fine line between fulfillment and misery in which the only difference is “one thing”? Can one person be joyful and another depressed simply on the basis of “one thing”?

Recently, a radio talk show host asked this question to his listeners. He argued the whole hour-long program that we as created beings need more things in life to be totally happy. We need, he asserted, more than just God in our lives to be satisfied. In fact, if you disagreed with him he called your belief-system “blasphemous”. He did a marvelous job putting down any alternative view that he finally, after about 2 minutes, baited me into calling the program. I attempted to graciously debate that while we need others; and it is not “good to be alone” (Genesis 2:18); and that healthy relationships are one of the ultimate blessings God bestows upon us. Ultimately, however, we do not “need” them in addition to God alone as the basis of fulfillment; joy; and satisfaction. He reigned on his show with the idea that “God is not enough” and anyone who thinks otherwise is a heretic.

The problem with that line of thinking is that it doesn’t take into account the sin and suffering. There are lonely people; hurting people; people with regrets who have failed miserably and they don’t need a plethora of stuff, people, animals and things to make them happy. They need Jesus!

David believed in relationship yet he loved the fact that the Lord is his shepherd and therefore, he lacks nothing (Psalm 23:1). The Apostle John, exiled on the island of Patmos, had all he needed as the revelation of Jesus showed up in his cell. Paul was in need and learned two important lessons. First, he has all he needs regardless of his situation because of WHO lives inside him not because of WHAT he has or lacks at the time (Philippians 4:10-13). Second, he learned in great need not that God’s grace plus people plus a good job plus a Praying-Aunt Bertha plus a pretty wife plus godly kids plus a nice house plus a fat portfolio plus wise investments are sufficient for him. He learned that, no matter what he faced, God’s grace was sufficient for him (2 Corinthians 12:9).

One of the greatest lessons comes when Jesus goes to Bethany to visit Mary and Martha. As the story unfolds in Luke chapter 10, we see Martha doing everything right instead of doing the right thing (note: thing is singular!). In her frantic pace and with a great deal of urgency, she is serving Jesus, ministering to people, being selfless and yet still doing something wrong. Jesus gently reminds Martha that only one thing is needed. The key to life is summed up not by serving and selflessness and ministering and good meals and putting others first and etc… Jesus sums up life by saying that “only ONE thing is NEEDED” and “Mary has chosen it”: Jesus!

Maybe the “one thing” is not about me. Maybe I should stop worrying about the universe revolving around me and simply put Jesus first. People fail me; family disappoints me; cars break down; portfolios dwindle – and that’s ok, when Jesus is my one thing and my satisfaction comes from Him and Him alone. When God is my total Source of life, then it matters not what resources (i.e. people, things, circumstances) do or don’t do – I’m fulfilled because my Source is always close, ever-present, never failing and Great is His faithfulness. When that is true in my life, my relationships are even better!

I would love for my kids to need Jesus and Jesus alone and to discover that His Love is better than cars, marriages, investments, real estate, relationships and even life itself (Psalms 63:3).