Sunday, September 25, 2011

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - Pay Attention!

I wonder what Paul would think about the world we live in.

Would he be on Facebook? Would he have a Twitter account?

Oh, I'd like to hope not.

Paul was single-minded in his pursuit of God, and I'm not thinking that he would tolerate the way social media turns us all away from what's truly important. How technology makes it all too easy to ignore eternity…

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" are his very words:

"I want you to be free from the concerns of this life…I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible."
(1 Corinthians 7:32, 35)

Can't you just hear Paul saying the same thing today?

Now I'm not slamming social media per se. I'm just echoing what Paul is saying here. People, we need to THINK about what we're doing with our time.

We live in a busy world. It's full of enticing entertainment, and clever gadgets, and a multitude of ways to pursue gratification, or amusement, or escape. In short, it's a world full of distractions.

And, as believers, we cannot afford to be distracted.

Why not?

Because time is short. Because the message of the Good News is desperately needed. Because we have been given a commission.

"And then he told them, 'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.'" (Matthew 16:15)

Paul took that commission very seriously. He actually travelled to distant corners to preach the Gospel. Because he knew personally what it was like to be awakened by the Light of the World. He knew the power of salvation. He knew how crucial eternal matters are.

Do we?

The enemy has a thousand (a million? bazillion?) ways to sidetrack us. He's very, very good at it. He does NOT want us to serve the Lord. He wants us to worship the world. He wants us unfocused and diverted

But Paul urges us to let go.

To live as unhindered by the cares of this world as we can. To be as free as possible from anything that might keep us from doing God's work.

Yes, it's important to be responsible to our jobs, our homes, and our families.

But oh, we must love and serve God first. Above all else. With no distractions.

So, let's take today and re-evaluate our lives, and think about how we spend our time.

Let's ask some tough questions.

Are we allowing ourselves to be consumed by the things of the world? Have we gotten sucked into the social media web? Do we spend too much time on our computerswatching TVplaying with *apps* or texting on our phones?

Are we wasting time?

Paul admonishes us, warns us.

If he was here today, I think he'd say something like this, "Make the most of the time before Christ's return. Life is short! Don't allow yourself to be preoccupied with the world."

Every person in every generation should have this sense of urgency about telling the Good News to others.

It is the ONLY thing that matters in the long run.

Thanks, Paul – we needed the reminder.


Do you need to take another look at how you spend your time?


"When in doubt, search God out!"

10 comments:

  1. G'Day Sharon, Great post! What you written here is EXACTLY what we spoke about at church today... How the devil likes to sidetrack us, and get us out of the game. Blessing to you, dear friend! With love and care from Kerrie. xOx

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  2. Hi Sharon!

    Yes, you are so right! We need to be careful to have the correct balance in our lives. I have found that when my priorities get rearranged my life feels out of whack. But, when I seek God FIRST, things fall into place. Thanks for this timely reminder!

    Blessings, Joan

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  3. Hi Sharon:

    I wrote a similar post a few weeks ago. Even though we are more "connected" than ever, are we becomming "disconnected" to God.

    Joan is right, we need to have the correct balance in our lives. God must be first.

    Blessings,
    Joan

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  4. Amen, Sharon, wise words you shared and so true. We can get so wrapped up in the world, it kind of sucks us in at times, that we do forget our real purpose and that is to know Jesus and make him known. It is a fine balance (which I fail at a lot of times) to limit time spent on computer, etc. I think it is something we need to constantly be aware of and be accountable for because I know Jesus just might ask us when we get to heaven what we did for him and spreading his message.

    Hope you have a nice Sunday, but I bet you will!

    betty

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  5. Hi Sharon,

    Yes a timely warning, thank you for posting.

    God Bless - Nita.

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  6. So very true, Sharon. The worldly distractions out there are so disturbing to me. I try to keep a quiet home - I need the quiet and solitude. Working now has put a real cramp on my style in that way - currently trying to find my way around that. But, I see everyday how the distractions of this world have affected our youth - the percentage of them on medications for wandering minds while still up to their armpits in a sea of computer games and hours of TV makes me feel so helpless when I try to introduce them to the place of solitude and reflection, without which no learning can ever really take place.

    Good Word!
    Joy!
    Kathy

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  7. True Sharon - some times I worry if I spend too much time on the computer and not enough time where I should be spending my time. sandie

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  8. Oh Sharon, I'm guilty of wasting time. Warning received.

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  9. I'm guilty of wasting time. I don't even have a facebook or text, but I can figure out creative ways to waste time anyway.

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  10. You know, I'm with you guys. On the one hand, I am grateful for the opportunities that the Internet, for example, gives me to write and communicate and fellowship with other believers. And though I'm not using social media per se, I also think it can be a good thing.

    The secret, just like everything else in life, is how you prioritize it - and who's running the show.

    Yielded to God, the technological ways we have to communicate can be a good and useful tool - both for the Body of Christ, and for the unsaved world.

    But, Satan is good at twisting things. So, we must be alert, and always place God at the forefront of what we spend our time on and what we focus our efforts on.

    GOD BLESS!

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"So [I] have been greatly encouraged in the midst of [my] troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. It gives [me] new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord. How [I] thank God for you!" (1 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

Thanks for your comments - it is such a joy to be sharing my journey with friends like YOU!

(NOTE: Anonymous comments will be removed. Thank you for understanding.)