I am only able to think one thing at a time. My wife, on the other hand, can hold 14,000 items in her mind all at once.  So, I am grateful for the places in Scripture that distill issues down to their essence. Oneness matters to God in some crucial areas of our life in Him.

It is fascinating that the ‘one’ in “one flesh”— the intimacy Yahweh created Adam and Eve for — is the same word for the oneness of nature that the Lord insisted Israel apply to their daily prayer and life: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord is our God ” (Deuteronomy 6:4 NKJV). The one true God revealed the dynamic love which He is in His eternal nature. That One’s heart of love both demanded and invited them to one comprehensive response — “Love the Lord your God with all your soul and with all your strength” (Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV). We are made for oneness with Him and others. If you miss that one thing, everything falls apart.

To one who knew Him intimately, Jesus said, “Martha, only one thing is needful” (Luke 10:42 NIV). Her deepest need, which we must not miss, is that whatever our personality type or giftedness, we, like Martha, are utterly dependent upon Jesus as the Center of our responsibility-filled lives.  Productivity must be one with worship.

Jesus distilled this truth to a young, gifted, talented leader whom He loved as He challenged him at the very place of eternal life and non-life, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give it to the poor…” (Mark 10:21, Luke 18:22 NIV).  It is important that we hold everything we think we own, earn, desire, make, want and produce in open hands allowing Jesus full access.  Eternal life depends on that oneness of yieldedness.  Note also, that loving with an ungrasping heart always issues in love for others with a deep sensitivity to the least. 

Before I was sanctified, my life as a believer was a swirl of confusion. I actually thought that I could retain some souvenirs of my old life without Jesus.  Surely, I reasoned, He would not care if I chose my own career. Following Jesus, I insisted, would be just fine in a nice safe context. James described my chaos as “doublemindedness” (James 1:8 NIV). What liberation came as I cried out like David, “Give me one heart that I might fear your name” (Psalm 86:11). The Holy Spirit can take two hearts and make them one.

Paul had a remarkable oneness of life purpose. Many interpret him to say, “See even I haven’t attained perfection, I have not arrived” (Philippians 3:12).  A closer look at his full argument is that he has not yet been perfectly restored as he will be in heaven. The very next paragraph states that there are those who live blameless, mature (perfect) lives because their hearts are one (Philippians 3:15).  He has received a (perfect) oneness of heart and the one thing he earnestly does is to live now and in eternity in union with Jesus (Philippians 3:13).  The “one thing” Paul does is to press forward with a whole life that is continually given to Jesus for others.

The common denominator in a person who is not frantic but victorious is that they have found the one thing needful: a heart that has been made one through God’s Love. By grace, we can have a singular disposition of heart. One motivation can form the basis of every other love. Trustingly yielding everything to our Master, because we have come to realize His undivided love for us, unifies all our broken pieces (Psalm 27:4-5).  

Questions to ponder

• What is the “one thing” that your heart is truly centered on — and is it Jesus? Take time to honestly assess what occupies your deepest attention, desire, and devotion.
• In what area of your life is Jesus inviting you into deeper oneness with Him? Consider where you might still be holding back and how yielding fully could bring wholeness. 

Paseven via Getty Images | This article was originally titled “One Thing Needful” in the August 2025 issue of The War Cry.