Distractions - Part III
The last two weeks I've covered the topic of distractions and how we need wise companions to help keep our focus on the goal and how we need to not give-in to the comparison game that easily entices us. The last topic I want to cover with this series takes us to the mountaintop, the place where everything is going well and everything seems right in our world.
3. Don't get distracted by the blessings.
Have you ever prayed for something for so long and then when you finally get what you prayed for, you stop praying? I'm ashamed to admit that this has happened to me not just once, but many times. When I'm desperate it's easy to fall on my knees in prayer and seek God with all my might because I see my tangible need for Him. But, when everyone is healthy, my bank account is not not too thin and the world seems to be "nice" to me, that's the time I struggle most with my commitment to prayer and seeking God.
Another man struggled with the distraction of blessings---his name was Solomon. One of my favorite people from the Bible is King Solomon. He made a good choice to ask God for wisdom and in return God gave him more wealth, influence and power than he could have ever imagined, but if you read in the book of Ecclesiastes you will find a hollowness that was formed as his focus moved from worshiping the Giver to the many gifts that he held in his hands.
He says, "So I became greater than all who had lived in Jerusalem before me, and my wisdom never failed me. Anything I wanted, I would take. I denied myself no pleasure. I even found great pleasure in hard work, a reward for all my labors. But as I looked at everything I had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere" (Ecc. 2:9-11 NLT).
You don't have to be wealthy, famous or powerful to be distracted by blessings. Blessings come in all shapes and sizes. From a new job or new car to a new baby or new ministry, any blessing can become a distraction when it takes the place of God in our hearts. Even for me as I work now in full-time ministry, I find it even more pertinent that I carve out time to pray, read the Bible and talk with Jesus about my own personal spiritual health. He wants more time with me and you.
King Solomon concludes with this final truth, "That's the whole story. Here now is my final conclusion: Fear God and obey his commands, for this is everyone's duty. God will judge us for everything we do, including every secret thing, whether good or bad" (Ecc. 12:13-14 NLT).
God is our loving Heavenly Father and He loves to bless us with good gifts, but the most important thing we need to remember is that He wants our attention because He knows that it will lead us in making the right choices as we keep our focus on Him.
Today, don't just make room for the gifts, but make more space in your life for the Giver.
