A Single Life

“The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear (or, single in the Greek), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!” - Matthew 6:22, 23.

Anyone who desires any goal at all in this life must put forth some effort to attain that goal. Many people set a goal in their lives and live their entire life around that goal. That becomes their single purpose for living. Frequently we condemn a person for doing this. But this is as it must be with Christianity.

Christianity is single in purpose. Jesus is telling us that we must have clear or definite goals in our life. That means we must put forth effort to make sure our service is acceptable to Him. Paul told the Philippians, “...work out your own salvation” in Philippians 2:12. Salvation is not granted to those who just wish for it. Someone has said, “Don’t wear your wishbone where your backbone ought to be.” They were probably referring to being successful in worldly goals but it also applies to our relationship with God.

When it comes to serving our God, we need to heed the admonition given long ago by Solomon in Ecclesiastes 9:10. “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” These words are echoed in Paul’s admonition to the church at Colossae as he writes in Colossians 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

A single life is reflected in our goals. A Christian desires to serve His Lord. This is reflected in Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:1, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.”

When we have a life that is single in purpose then we will be able to say with Paul, “To me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

See you when the saints meet, Lord willing.

Love, Tony