Battling Distractions
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:16).
God created us for specific purposes. Have you ever considered what life would be like in your home, church, or community if you had not been born? Our lives are precious for many reasons but one of them is that they are so temporal. So the key, of course, is to make the most of the opportunities that God gives you to accomplish His plans and purposes for your life. In short: DO NOT WASTE YOUR LIFE.
There are so many distractions in our world to get us off the course of life that God has designed for us.
- One of the greatest distractors in the lives of many Christians is the television set. My wife and I found this to be true in our lives long ago and literally eliminated it from our home. Personally, I miss certain news reports and “Michigan Football” but have no intention of hooking it up again in the near future. I believe that it would be good for many of us to get rid the television simply because of all the trash that comes through the airways. You cannot even watch the commercials without satanic temptations being thrown at you. One lady told me that she has it on simply for the noise. My advice – Listen to Christian radio (Bible Broadcasting Network). It is on 24 hours a day and you can hear it through the radio, your computer and even your cell phone.
- Money is a distractor. Jesus said: Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof (Matthew 6:31-34). If we truly believe that God will take care of us, we would not allow money to be a distractor in our lives.
- I’m not sure how to label this next one. Perhaps the word “media” will fit, even though the television would be included in this department. This can include so many things – magazines, newspapers, the internet, and cell phones. It almost seems that you cannot go anywhere without some form of the media jumping out at us, calling out for our attention. I grieve when I see Christian teenagers constantly on their cell phones. I would like to ask them concerning the time they spend with the Lord as compared to the time they spend on their cell phones. The list of media influence can be larger than what I have given, but it really needs to be considered as a major distraction in our Christian lives.
- Relationships are good and spiritually healthy, but when we allow them to distract us from God, then they become distractors. Relationships are great if they achieve all of the reciprocal (one another) tenets of God’s Word.
- Even our church activities can be a distraction from our walk with the Lord. As a pastor, I learned a long time ago not to get so busy in the work of the Lord that I didn’t have time for the Lord of the work.
Satan knows what it is that can keep you distracted – the worries of life, temptations, and so many other things. We need to be careful not to be conformed in any way to this world (Romans 12:2; I John 2:15) with a determination to keep our affections on things above (Hebrews 12:2; Colossians 3:1-2).
James 4:7 is helpful here. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. The order here is very important. The more you submit to God, the easier it will be for you to resist the devil and the distractions he will throw your way.
Years ago, I would do my sermon preparation in my office. My problem is that I am “a people person.” I would hear people in the adjacent office and just had to see who was visiting. At other times, there would be people coming in to see me unexpectedly. I found by staying in my study at home that I could avoid a lot of distractions and accomplish a lot more. I set up regular hours at the church when I would be there.
Distractions are something we should take seriously. At all costs, guard your time with the Lord daily. I am sure that you already know that this can be a real spiritual battle, but it can be conquered in His power.
George Stiekes serves as a Lay Pastor at Bethany Bible Church in Hendersonville, NC. See here for a more complete bio of brother Stiekes extensive ministry. We republish his material by permission.
Photo by Nubelson Fernandes on Unsplash