Most of us have multiple layers and many dimensions. We have dreams, desires, goals, responsibilities, commitments, and very long to-do lists. The result? We feel pulled in numerous directions and have scattered focus.
The to-do lists may be unavoidable, but a scattered focus isn’t. It’s possible to submit all those other desires and obligations under a single, higher pursuit. Instead of running after so many things in so many different directions, we can give them all up and choose one thing instead.
Paul put it this way: "I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things." (Philippians 3:8) It wasn’t that he no longer fulfilled his responsibilities toward others or gave up all desires and dreams. It’s that in pursuing Jesus as the ultimate desire, everything else fell into that relationship. He was able to focus on one thing rather than many, and the one thing took care of the rest.
There’s exhilarating freedom in giving up all things in exchange for the one thing of greatest value. Life feels much more free of clutter that way, and much more worthwhile. Unnecessary distractions fall away, and everything else fits under one ultimate purpose. And that purpose is far more significant than anything else.
