Good morning, everyone.
I want to start today with a story that might sound familiar to many of you. Picture this: I’m at home, trying to get my kids’ attention. They’re completely absorbed in their tablets, watching videos or playing games. I call out, “Jack, Jack, Jacqueline!” And… nothing. Not even a glance. But the moment I mention taking the tablet away, suddenly, there’s an immediate response: “WHAT?” or “You can’t take it. It’s mine!” Of course I don’t want to take it, I gave it to her to make her happy.
Sound familiar? Maybe it’s not tablets for you. Maybe it’s trying to get a teenager to look up from their phone, or perhaps it’s your spouse who’s deeply engrossed in a TV show or a book. We’ve all experienced moments where we’re ignored until something we value is threatened.
This got me thinking about how life often works the same way. We all have our “tablets”—those things we get so engrossed in that we lose sight of what’s really important. Whether it’s our hobbies, jobs, relationships, or material possessions, these distractions can sometimes prevent us from focusing on the truly significant aspects of our lives, like our relationship with God.
Today, I want to talk about these distractions and how we can prioritize what truly matters. It’s easy to let the good things in life overshadow the greatest thing of all—our connection with God. Let’s explore how we can refocus our lives, making sure that in the midst of everything, we never lose sight of what’s most important.
As we explore further, let’s reflect on some common distractions that many of us encounter in our daily lives. These are the “tablets” of our adult lives—the things that draw our attention away from God and from what truly matters.
For example, I love sports, and I know many of you do too. Whether it’s playing, watching, or cheering for the Vikings and who is ever beating the packers that week, sports can become a huge part of our lives. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying sports, but it can start to take precedence over our spiritual life. I’ve found myself so caught up in a big game that I’ve skipped church or felt more emotionally invested in the outcome of a match than in my faith journey. Have you ever experienced that? We can get so caught up in the excitement and drama of sports that it starts to take over our Sundays and even our weeknights. The camaraderie and thrill of the game can make it easy to prioritize sports over spiritual growth.
Then there are relationships. Remember when you first started dating someone new? It’s all-consuming, and you want to spend every waking moment with that person. But sometimes, that relationship can pull us away from our spiritual practices—like attending church, praying, or reading scripture. I’ve had to reassess my priorities when a relationship started to take more time and energy than my faith. A healthy relationship should support and enhance our faith, not detract from it. When we’re in the honeymoon phase of a relationship, it’s tempting to skip church or neglect our prayer time to be with our significant other. But true love will encourage us to grow in our faith together, not drift away from it.
Work is another major distraction. We all strive to do well in our careers, and sometimes that means putting in extra hours or going the extra mile to impress our bosses. I’ve been there, working so much that I missed out on church or family time. But our jobs, while important, are temporary. If we passed away tomorrow, it would likely take just two weeks for our employer to replace us. Yet, we often let work dominate our lives, pushing aside our relationship with God. The pressure to succeed and provide can make us justify long hours and missed Sundays, thinking it’s just for a season. But seasons can stretch into years, and we must remember that our ultimate provider is God, not our job.
And then there are our hobbies and possessions. I love fishing and going on trips, and I’m sure many of you have your own passions—whether it’s being in the boat, the latest fishing rod, or a fancy trip. These are blessings, but they can also become tests of our priorities. It’s easy to justify skipping church for a weekend getaway or to indulge in our favorite pastime. We might tell ourselves that we’ve been blessed with these things because we’re doing something right, so it’s okay to take a break. But if we continually let these distractions pull us away from our faith, we risk losing sight of what’s most important. Enjoying God’s creation and the blessings He gives us is wonderful, but we must ensure that these blessings don’t become idols that take the place of our relationship with Him.
The challenge lies in balancing our enjoyment of these good things with our commitment to God. It’s not about giving up the things we love; it’s about ensuring they don’t overshadow our spiritual lives. Let’s strive to keep our priorities in check, always putting our relationship with God first, and enjoying the blessings we have in a way that honors Him. Let’s ask ourselves: Are we letting these distractions pull us away from our faith, or are we using them to draw closer to God and to glorify Him in all we do?
Now, let's consider the fleeting nature of many things we often prioritize and how they can serve as tests of our faith. It's important to recognize that many of the things we hold dear in this life—our jobs, possessions, and even some relationships—are temporary. Our careers, for example, while essential, can quickly replace us. Yet, we often allow work to dominate our lives, pushing aside our relationship with God and our time with family.
Possessions and hobbies can also become tests of our priorities. We might receive blessings like a new car, a beautiful home, or the latest gadget, and it's easy to believe that these gifts are signs of doing something right. However, these blessings can sometimes distract us from our spiritual path. We may find ourselves justifying missing church or neglecting our prayer life because we’re enjoying these gifts. But what happens when these blessings are no longer there, or when they start to lose their shine? Do we still give glory to God, or do we let our relationship with Him wane?
These temporary pleasures and successes often test our faith. When life is going well, it's crucial to remember to give thanks to God and stay committed to our spiritual practices. But it's equally important to maintain that commitment when things aren't going as smoothly. Our faith should not be contingent on our circumstances. Instead, it should be a steadfast foundation that we build our lives upon, regardless of the highs and lows.
Reflecting on this, we see that the true test of our faith is not just in how we handle the challenges, but also in how we manage the blessings. Are we using our blessings to honor God, or are we letting them become distractions that lead us away from Him? Let's strive to keep our focus on the eternal, using the temporary blessings we receive to deepen our faith and strengthen our relationship with God.
Let me share a personal story that highlights how sometimes we need to let go of something good to receive something even better. During my freshman year in college, I started dating someone older. We spent nearly every day together, and I began to imagine a long-term future with her. As Thanksgiving approached, I even considered bringing her home for the holidays, envisioning a future that included her.
But things didn’t turn out the way we planned. We broke up after Christmas. At that time, I couldn’t see beyond the immediate pain and disappointment. However, a few months later, I met Michaela. Now, looking back over 13 years of marriage, I realize that what I thought was a great plan back then pales in comparison to the life I’ve built with Michaela.
This experience taught me an invaluable lesson: Sometimes, we have to let go of what we think is good to receive what is truly great. It's a practical reminder for all of us. We might be holding on tightly to a job, a relationship, or a hobby because it seems good and comfortable. But God might be asking us to loosen our grip and trust that He has something even better in store.
So, how can we apply this lesson in our own lives? It starts with prayer and discernment. When faced with decisions, especially difficult ones, we need to seek God’s guidance. Are we clinging to something out of fear of the unknown, or are we open to God’s greater plans for us? We must be willing to step out in faith, even when it’s uncomfortable, trusting that God’s plans are far better than anything we can imagine.
Let’s also support each other in this journey. Share your experiences, your challenges, and your triumphs with your church family. We are here to lift each other up and encourage one another to keep our eyes on the eternal, not just the temporary. By doing so, we can collectively grow stronger in our faith and more attuned to God’s will for our lives.
In closing, let’s remember that while it’s natural to enjoy the good things in life, we should always be open to God’s call to something greater. Trust in His plan, even when it means letting go of our own. By doing so, we’ll find that His blessings are beyond anything we could have ever imagined.
As we leave here today, I challenge each of you to take a moment this week to identify one distraction in your life that might be pulling you away from your relationship with God. It could be something small, like a hobby, or something bigger, like a work commitment. Make a conscious decision to put that distraction aside, even if just for a short time, and use that time to reconnect with God. Whether it’s through prayer, reading scripture, or spending time in quiet reflection, let’s prioritize our faith and allow God’s presence to fill the spaces we often let other things occupy. Trust that in letting go of these distractions, you’ll find a deeper, more fulfilling relationship with Him. Amen
