# “A man of one thing” by J. C. Ryle

- Link: https://tollelege.net/2012/09/05/a-man-of-one-thing-by-j-c-ryle/
- Published: 2012-09-05T18:00:15-05:00
- Author: tollelege

“I want to strike a blow at the lazy, easy, sleepy Christianity of these latter 
days, which can see no beauty in zeal, and only uses the word ‘zealot’ as a word
of reproach…. Zeal in religion is a burning desire to please God, to do His will,
and to advance His glory in the world in every possible way.

It is a desire which no man feels by nature,—which the Spirit puts in the heart 
of every believer when he is converted,—but which some believers feel so much more
strongly than others that they alone deserve to be called ‘zealous’ men.

This desire is so strong, when it really reigns in a man, that it impels him to 
make any sacrifice,—to go through any trouble,—to deny himself to any amount,—to
suffer, to work, to labour, to toil,—to spend himself and be spent, and even to 
die,—if only he can please God and honour Christ.

A zealous man in religion is _pre-eminently a man of one thing_. It is not enough
to say that he is earnest, hearty, uncompromising, thorough-going, whole-hearted,
fervent in spirit. He only sees one thing he cares for one thing, he lives for one
thing, he is swallowed up in one thing; and that one thing is to please God.

Whether he lives, or whether he dies,—whether he has health, or whether he has sickness,—
whether he is rich, or whether he is poor,—whether he pleases man, or whether he
gives offence,—whether he is thought wise, or whether he is thought foolish,—whether
he gets blame, or whether he gets praise,—whether he gets honour, or whether he 
gets shame,—for all this the zealous man cares nothing at all.

He burns for one thing; and that one thing is to please God, and to advance God’s
glory. If he is consumed in the very burning, he cares not for it,—he is content.
He feels that, like a lamp, he is made to burn; and if consumed in burning, he has
but done the work for which God appointed him.

Such an one will always find a sphere for his zeal. If he cannot preach, and work,
and give money, he will cry, and sigh, and pray. Yes: if he is only a pauper, on
a perpetual bed of sickness, he will make the wheels of sin around him drive heavily,
by continually interceding against it.

If he cannot fight in the valley with Joshua, he will do the work of Moses, Aaron,
and Hur, on the hill. (Exod. 17:9–13.) If he is cut off from working himself, he
will give the Lord no rest till help is raised up from another quarter, and the 
work is done. This is what I mean when I speak of ‘zeal’ in religion.”

–J. C. Ryle, [_Practical Religion: Being Plain Papers on the Daily Duties, Experience, Dangers, and Privileges of Professing Christians_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0851517439?tag=toletaupanre-20)(
London: Charles Murray, 1900), 183-85.

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