2022_05_25 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- 1 Corinthians 7-8
Tucked in with Paul’s instructions regarding marriage relationships in chapter 7, Paul explains the reason behind his teaching, “This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.” (NASB) This is both inspiring and challenging to me. I love the phrase “to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord” – it would be nice to have that printed on a coffee cup, poster or screen saver. The rub comes when I look at my life and realize that I have allowed it to be cluttered with distractions that work to divert my attention away from God. The things that distract us can of course be bad things, but often they are actually good things that are out of position. For instance, married life is a good thing, but if attention to my spouse is more important than honoring and pleasing God then I am distracted. Point of clarification – in marriage God instructs me to love and honor my mate, but never at the expense of loving and honoring Him.
It is tough work to analyze our life to see what constitutes as a distraction. For example, it is important to be faithful with our career, but it should never become more important than honoring and being faithful to God. If that happens, it has become an idol. Exercise is good but our national obsession over looks can become an idol too. Loving and caring for our children is essential, but for us as followers, that commitment should never supplant serving and following God’s commands.
For me distractions come in a variety of avenues: phone, texts, tv, news feeds, comparison with others etc. To reign in the distraction and reestablish true devotion to God is an on-going process – and through prayer and a healthy diet of God’s word we can find growing success.
“You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor