The one thing everyone truly needs is Jesus.

Well, somehow I made it through this Sunday morning's church service. Just kidding ...

The focus as usual was on God and exalting Him.

Love and thankfulness to God were apparent in those who participated in leading the service ... through the songs and communion, through prayer and the reading of the Scriptures.

Truly, for the time I'm there, they make it easy for me to remove my eyes from my own problems and focus on God.

This morning's Scripture reading was Philippians 4:4-9, and the sermon title was "If I Just Had ... One Thing."

If I just had one thing to ask God to give me, as God told Solomon, "Ask for whatever you want me to give you," what would it be?

The minister mentioned that Navin, the character played by Steve Martin in The Jerk, said he didn't need anything except "This ashtray... And this paddle game. The ashtray and the paddle game and that's all I need... And this remote control. The ashtray, the paddle game, and the remote control, and that's all I need... And these matches. The ashtray, and these matches, and the remote control, and the paddle ball... And this lamp..."

What do I think I need the most? Let me think on it.

As the minister said, there are times we forget that the things of this life are physical. Often, what is here today, is gone tomorrow, and God has never given any of us any promises for how long each of us will live here in this world.

Solomon's one thing, wisdom, was mentioned, but no, I wouldn't ask for it because I think Solomon seriously regretted that.

The rich young ruler was mentioned, but no, I don't have great possessions.

The rich fool was mentioned, who stored up things for himself but had no riches in God.

Saint Paul was mentioned as stating that his one thing was to forget what lies behind and strain forward to what lies ahead, "press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

I've always wondered how Paul was able to do that--forget the garbage of the past and think only about the future. The present can feel like hopelessness, too, if what we know from our past paints a picture of our tomorrow.

The one thing everyone truly needs is Jesus.