CONCENTRATION
‘One thing I do.’
Php_3:13
The words ‘I do’ are not found in the original, they are scarcely needed. The Apostle wishes to lay stress not so much on doing as being. One thing absorbed him, possessed his life, controlled all his energies.
I. The ideal the Apostle set before him.—He had an ideal. ‘I press,’ he said, ‘toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’ His ideal may be summed up in one sentence—‘That I may win Christ.’
II. How he pursued it.—It is only too possible to have high ideals and yet to fail practically in pursuing them. The Apostle was no idealist in the sense of dreaming away his life. Let us notice the spirit in which he pursued his object.
(a) Its first feature is simplicity.
(b) Its second, sincerity. No man was ever subjected to severer tests of sincerity than St. Paul. In the earlier part of the chapter we have a striking account of the difficulties through which he passed. Between him and his goal were barriers: (1) ceremonial; (2) ecclesiastical; (3) social.
(c) Its third, humility.
—Rev. E. W. Moore.
Illustration
‘There is a story told of a visitor who, going to the studio of a well-known artist and sculptor, found him in tears, and on inquiring the cause, he pointed to the bust which he had just completed, and said, “There, that represents my ideal; I can do nothing better than that, and I weep, for I know my career as an artist is ended.” He felt he could make no further progress, for he had realised his ideal. To have realised our ideal is to come to a standstill. “Satisfaction is the grave of progress.” ’
(SECOND OUTLINE)
THE SECRET OF SUCCESS
Here was the secret of St. Paul’s success: the possession of a fixed, definite object in life, which he followed up with all his heart, and mind, and soul, and strength. Here, too, lies the secret of every true man’s success.
I. What is the one thing with each of you?—What is the object to which you give most thought, most care, most labour? Is it to do the will of God? Ah! is it not true that ‘the world is too much with us,’ and that our work, or our money, or our pleasure occupy the first place, whilst God, on Whom all depends, is put second? Let our constant prayer be, ‘Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do?’
II. When we have discovered what the will of God is, let our one endeavour be to do it with all our heart and soul. We have all a work to do for God, and a given time in which to do it. Never mind the great things, strive to do the small things well, if God has given you small things to do. God has a place for the cedar, and also one for the daisy; for the elephant, and the ant; He has a place and a work, you may be quite sure, for you.
III. In all you do try to look up to God and heaven.—I have read of a man who as he walked with his eyes cast down to the ground found a piece of gold. Ever afterwards he walked with downcast eyes, hoping to discover more treasure. But he found none, and because he thus looked down he lost sight altogether of the blue heaven above. Let us remember where our true treasure is, and look up.
Illustration
‘What made Chrysostom a preacher able to sway men’s hearts so mightily that they called him the golden-mouth? It was because he knew the power which was in him, and because he set one object before him, and worked for it. What made Michael Angelo a master among artists, able to rise from obscurity, and make the walls of the Sistine Chapel glow with living pictures till men gazed awe-struck, whilst his teacher confessed that he must become the pupil? It was because he felt the power within him, and worked with chisel and brush for success. It was not chance which made Napoleon a conqueror, or Shakespeare the first of poets. What made Newton the great astronomer he was? Because “the stars,” as he said, “were always in his heart,” he was always thinking of them.’