"The One Thing"
Billy Crystal and Jack Palance in City Slickers
Billy Crystal and Jack Palance in City SlickersIn the 1990's movie, City Slickers, the character, Mitch, played by Billy Crystal, says to his wife, "I just feel lost." Unfortunately the three "City Slickers" don't find help in a local church but head out west looking for the meaning of life on a cattle drive. It's there that they meet the real- deal cowboy, Curly, played by Jack Palance. Listen to Curly's wisdom as he speaks to Mitch.
"None of you get it. Do you know what the secret of life is? One thing. Just one thing."
Mitch responds with this: That's great, but what's the one thing? Then Curly conludes, "That's what you've got to figure out."
In Mark 10:17-22 Jesus was asked a similar question.
What is that one thing? In the above account of the young, rich man, it seems at first that the issue is his money. He was clinging to his wealth. The real issue is deeper. The one thing was his heart. The fact that he couldn't let go of his wealth was just the evidence that his heart was not fully committed to Christ.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he responded that you must "love the Lord your God with all your heart!" That's the one thing. Today I want to encourage you to fully surrender your heart to Christ. If you can fix this one thing, everything else will fall into place. Have a blessed day.
Mitch responds with this: That's great, but what's the one thing? Then Curly conludes, "That's what you've got to figure out."
In Mark 10:17-22 Jesus was asked a similar question.
As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him
and fell on his knees before him.
"Good teacher," he asked,
"what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered.
"No one is good—except God alone.
You know the commandments: 'Do not murder,
do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give
false testimony, do not defraud,
honor your father and mother.'"
"Teacher," he declared,
"all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and loved him.
"One thing you lack," he said.
"Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad,
because he had great wealth.
and fell on his knees before him.
"Good teacher," he asked,
"what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
"Why do you call me good?" Jesus answered.
"No one is good—except God alone.
You know the commandments: 'Do not murder,
do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give
false testimony, do not defraud,
honor your father and mother.'"
"Teacher," he declared,
"all these I have kept since I was a boy."
Jesus looked at him and loved him.
"One thing you lack," he said.
"Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor,
and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me."
At this the man's face fell. He went away sad,
because he had great wealth.
What is that one thing? In the above account of the young, rich man, it seems at first that the issue is his money. He was clinging to his wealth. The real issue is deeper. The one thing was his heart. The fact that he couldn't let go of his wealth was just the evidence that his heart was not fully committed to Christ.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest commandment, he responded that you must "love the Lord your God with all your heart!" That's the one thing. Today I want to encourage you to fully surrender your heart to Christ. If you can fix this one thing, everything else will fall into place. Have a blessed day.
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