Distractions

The world is full of distractions. There are countless voices calling and clamouring for a hearing in our lives. Some of these voices are good, some our bad, and some are neutral. Often, we distractions based on their outcome. If they help us forget something unpleasant, they are good. If they make us miss out on something we wanted, then they are bad. But distractions are not those things that interrupt our agendas, but the things that interrupt God's agenda for us.

Even things that are not inherently bad in-and-of themselves, can become bad if they distract us from what is most important. The reason we exist in this world is to bring God glory and to enjoy him forever. Having trusted in Christ's death and resurrection, we have been brought into the unique place where we can both glorify and enjoy him. This reality must shape our thinking about distractions.

We all struggle, even it the best of times, to grow in faith. Remember how Elijah struggled after his great victory over the prophets of Ba'al (see 1 Kings 18-19)? Even after witnessing the mighty outpouring of God's power in answer to his prayers, Elijah despaired. He allowed himself to be distracted. Granted his distraction came in the form of a death threat, but God had still demonstrated that He was on Elijah's side. Despair was a form of distraction.

Sometimes we are distracted by entertainment. We get tired of the drudgery of day-to-day living and want to escape it all. Often, we do this by watching countless hours of television, playing video games, reading books, or listen to music. We go places to watch movies or hear a band. We invest our time and money in the name of entertainment.

Sometimes we are distracted by the fear of vulnerability. We don't want anyone to see the chink in our armour. We don't want them to know that we are not as perfect as we imagine they imagine us to be. We are desperate to seem to have it all together. Other times we are just distracted by fear--fear that people won't like us; that we won't fit in.

Again, it is easy to be distracted by work or achievement. We measure our success by our ability to produce results. We can become distracted by our pride. We want more than anything to be successful. Yet, the question remains, "What does it mean to be successful?" Who decides what success is? Is it a bigger house? Bigger car? More money? More friends? Beautiful children?

If God created us with the chief purpose of glorifying and enjoying him, then success must be defined based upon our ability to achieve that purpose. Success is humanly impossible. For all have sinned a fall short of the glory of God (Rom 3:23). We have all failed to glorify and enjoy the Lord. But, God has rescued us through the willing sacrifice of Jesus, who paid our debt and gives us a new nature when we trust him. He has made us new creations with the ability to glorify him and enjoy him. In Christ, we can succeed in accomplishing the purpose God has planned for us.

Now anything that distracts us from our God appointed purpose, to glorify and enjoy Him, becomes a bad thing. However, many things that distract us may be used by God to accomplish his purpose. For example, you are preparing for Sunday school (let's say the lesson is about encouragement), and the phone rings. The voice on the other end of the line is someone who isn't in church and they have just lost a loved one. You feel bad for them, but you really want to get back to studying this lesson, because you want to be a more spiritual person. However, just before you tell them you need to go, you realize that God has given you an opportunity to practice the lesson. This "distraction" becomes a means to the end of glorifying and enjoying God.

Let's say you go to the movies. You buy a ticket, you buy some popcorn and soda, you go into a dark room and watch stuff blow-up (if your a man) or watch women cry (if your a married man on a date with your wife) or watch cartoons do funny things (if your a dad spending "quality" time with the kids). It can be time well spent if entertainment isn't the end for which we aim. If the movie is a means to the end, say starting a conversation that will lead to spiritual matters, particularly the gospel, then the movie is an excellent use of time and money.

We must remain focused on our mission: to glorify and enjoy God. We can't allow ourselves to get distracted. The driving question we should come to ask in every circumstance is, "Will this enable me to glorify and enjoy God, or is this a complete waste of time?" We must come to realize that if it doesn't glorify God and deepen our enjoyment of him it is a complete waste of time.

When you see a show on t.v., before tuning in and tuning out, ask, "How can this show help me glorify and enjoy God more?" Before turning on the radio or popping in a CD (or playing an mp3 for you youth), ask yourself, "Does this music make me love the Lord more?" Before you plop down with another book to devour, ask yourself, "Will this book help me serve God?" Maybe we're not used to thinking this way, but we should be, otherwise we will continue to get caught up in one wave of distraction after the next.