Avoiding Distractions

Ephesians 5:15-16

See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time for the days are evil.

The world is filled with all kinds of activities. It seems that no matter which way we turn, something is competing for our time. Some of these activities are harmful and easily recognized as something to be avoided. On the other hand, many of them are good and not harmful in and of themselves. Although, with only twenty-four hours in a day, and a certain amount of that time that has to be used for rest, we have to be selective as to what we give our time to. There are only a certain amount of things that we physically have time to do. That is why it is so important to determine what is really important and should become a priority in our lives and what is just a distraction.

The Bible encourages us to make the most of every day, live with a purpose, to be wise with our time and not to be wasteful with the time that we have been given. In order for us to do this, we must prioritize the things in our lives according to their importance. The way we do this is to ask ourselves some very pointed questions and answering them as straightforward as possible. In so doing, we can determine where God fits into our lives in relation to everything else. It has been proven over and over again that when we put Him first in our lives and follow the leading of His Spirit, everything else falls into its proper place. As it says in Matthew, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all the other things will be added unto you.”

If you want to see what is really important to you, just keep a log of what you spend your time doing. If you spend one hour per week reading your Bible and praying, and spend six hours playing golf, for instance, then it is easy to see that golf is a higher priority than for you than meeting with God. Is there anything wrong with golf? No, as long as it does not become a distraction from the most important things in life such as seeking and serving the Lord.