The Dangers of Distraction

I have thought long and hard about the best way to begin this sermon this week, because what I am about to say is so extremely important, I don’t want anyone to miss it.

Begin playing music loudly in background

What I have decided, after giving this a great deal of thought, is that I wanted I to somehow provide and illustration that would demonstrate how easy it is to become distracted from what it is that we should be focusing on. Now, I realize that it is very difficult to come up with such an illustration or demonstration but I still wanted to try because nothing gets a point across like a good illustration.

Stop playing music

Am I right?

Well, am I? You mean that y'all didn’t hear what I was saying? How come? My microphone was on like it always is. I wasn't talking any quieter than I normally would. What was going on that I couldn't keep your attention?

I believe by now, ya’ll have probably received the point I am trying to make. It is easy to become distracted when there are other messages and voices that are seemingly louder than the one that really deserves our attention.

As I was saying before the music began playing, I honestly have struggled with how I should begin this message. I believe that a degree of transparency is important for pastors to exhibit, meaning that I feel it is important that congregations see that their pastors are human and are in need of prayer just as much as anyone because we too struggle with various things, including how best to share difficult messages.

It isn't that the content of this message is difficult, but communicating it in a clear and concise way can be because just as we are about to hear, no one is safe from the dangers of distraction- not even pastors.

Current Events- not addressing it because it is in the headlines, but because it is in the church.

For the last two Sundays, I have spent my weeks planning to preach this message. However, on the 15th, I woke up at 4am and felt a change of heart and mind that I was not supposed to preach this that Sunday. So, I planned to preach it last Sunday, but again felt that it was not the right time. Now, there were things that I changed in my own life in preparation for this message, and I thought maybe it was that I needed more time to “practice what I preach”, but then again, I knew that wasn’t why I felt this message should wait. I worried that maybe there was something big coming up and God was telling me to just hold on. Really, I don’t know why it is that I felt God was telling me to hold off on this message. Maybe there are bigger distractions coming and God wanted this to be fresh on our minds- I don’t know. Either way, here we are.

You can take your pic of Bible stories that could be used to illustrate the danger of distraction. Perhaps, we could reference David, and how he was distracted by Bathsheba? Wait, I have an even better reference. What about Samson and Delilah? Many of you have been studying Samson’s story in Sunday School, you’ve seen first hand how distractions worked out for Samson. What about the earliest distraction we know of? Eve and the serpent. We know how that worked out too. Instead, why don’t we use an example from the New Testament where Jesus directly confronts someone and their distraction? To find this reference, I would ask that you turn in your Bibles to Luke 10:38-42 Lets stand as we read God’s word and remain standing for a word of prayer.

Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)

38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching.

40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.”

41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things,

42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

PRAYER

Distraction: The Devil’s Desire

Let’s not forget who it was in the garden of Eden that was stealing Eve’s focus from God’s instruction. Yes, that’s right. It was Satan. What we need to understand is that distractions do not just simply appear. Sure, there are small things that I’m sure Satan does not have much of a hand in. For instance, I have a paper cut on the tip of my middle finger on my right hand. Now, paper cuts , as you know, can be more painful than a full-on gash in your arm. I know from either listening or by working with many of you that we sometimes cut ourselves and keep working only to notice some blood on the ground and wonder where in the world it came from. It is then when we think to look at ourselves and we notice that it is actually us bleeding. But then there are little things, like paper-cuts, that really aren't that big of a deal, but they present just enough pain to be an annoyance, and something that captures our attention, even if only for a moment. Distraction can be a lot like a paper-cut. Sometimes distractions aren't always a gash on the backside of our arms where they are out of sight yet still effect us, but rather a paper-cut in a place that we cannot simply ignore, like a finger. Small, but we see and use it every-single-day. Either way, we have to be aware of the fact that Satan can most certainly use these distractions to his advantage. Satan, as he is sometimes referred, is the great deceiver. This leads us into our first of three points we will discuss today. These points I refer to are the 3 D’s of Distraction.

Social Media- Can feel Satan trying to fill that free time with other unfruitful and nonproductive distractions. Deshona mentioned today that it was impressive didn't know where my phone was.

The 3 D’s of Distraction

1. Distraction is Deceptive.

1 Timothy 2:14 ESV

14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor.

It is important for us to see distractions for what they really are. They are deceptive. Do you know what makes for the best distractions? Im going to tell you in a minute, but right now, I want to tell you what it isn't. It isn't the things that simply steal our attention from God.

When Martha asked Jesus to tell Mary to help her with the serving, it wasn’t because Martha wasn't giving attention to God, or even doing something that she thought would bring Him glory. The scripture says that “she was distracted with much serving”. She believed, and rightly so, that she was literally and figuratively “serving” the Lord. How is that she could be distracted?

Can I tell on my Mother-In-Law? She is gonna love me for this, I just know it. It never fails, that when we have a big family meal, my mother in law is so concerned about serving others. Making sure that we all have something to drink, that we all have a bowl for our salads (that she made two of-one with tomatoes and one without), that we have bbq sauce and ketchup. You name it- if we could possibly need it, she wants to make sure we have it. Now, I know you're thinking , why on earth are you picking on poor Marsha after she does so much for all of you. Well, I will tell you. One, because I am her son-in-law, and that is what we do. Picking on her is how I show my love. And two, because by the time she is done making sure everyone has what they need and that she didn't forget to get the rolls out of the microwave because she put them in there to keep them warm, we are already close to being done eating and its time for her to start worrying about getting us dessert and coffee! For every time she asks if we need anything, there is someone to tell her that if we do, we will get it and for her to relax and eat. By the time we are all done, she is starting to eat. (For the record, I love my MIL, and in her defense are two things- 1. She has the heart of a servant and that is nothing to be ashamed of. 2. If she ever stops worrying about wether or not we all have what we need, we will probably pick on her for that too. She knows that for her, it is a lose-lose situation)

I say all of that to say this, Jesus tells Martha that although what she is doing is important, Mary should not be condemned because she is at the Lord’s feet listening to what he is saying. It is almost as if Jesus is saying, I know that what you are doing is important, but it isn't more important that listening to what I have to say, and doing what I have told you to do.

This is why distraction is so deceptive. It isn’t because our attention is being redirected away from God. Distraction is deceptive because sometimes we can think that the things we are being distracted by, are actually things that would bring God glory! We can trick ourselves into thinking that this distraction, whatever it might be, is an effort on our part to somehow fight God’s battles. We can use our human rights, or our convictions as Christians to say that this distraction isn't really a distraction because I am only giving it attention because God would want me to give it attention.

God gave us one mission, to spread the Gospel and to do so with Love. We have been deceived into thinking that these modern-day issues are actually hills worth dying on when really all they are doing is stealing our attention from the mission we were born for in the first place!

Let me ask you a question real quick, ands when I do so, please be realistic about this. If you are a healthcare worker, or you work somewhere where you are constantly needing to give this specific topic attention, I realize that your answer will be effected and disproportionate. However, I believe we all have the presence of mind to understand the point I’m driving at. You ready?

How many times have you had a conversation about masks this week? Now, how many times have you had a conversation about your savior this week?

How many times have you had a conversation about vaccines this week? How many times have you shared a blessing God has bestowed upon you?

How many times have you discussed Covid-19, Afghanistan, President Biden, and so on this week compared to the one who died on a cross so that your sins could be forgiven and you wouldn't have to spend an eternity in Hell? Let me assure you, among the things of which God will ask or say to you on judgment day, I cant say what all will be mentioned, but I do know that He will be looking for faith in Jesus Christ, and out of that faith will stem a commitment to the mission He gave for us- He’s going to be looking for those two things, without a doubt. We cannot afford to be deceived by distraction. We cannot afford to be tricked into believing that God would do this, or God would do that. Let me tell you what God did: God sent His son, they called Him Jesus He came to love, heal and forgive He lived and died to buy my pardon An empty grave is there to prove my savior lives- And before He went to prepare a place for me in Heaven, He told me to tell others about Him. If I’m not focused on that, If I am not giving that mission as much attention as the other things that are oftentimes flying in my face, sometimes unavoidable, be them distractions or not, If I’m not giving my God-given mission as much attention as these things, Lord help me because I can’t afford to be distracted, and the people that are waiting to hear and see the gospel from me cant afford for me to be distracted either.

2. Distraction is Divisive.

When Martha came to Jesus asking him to send Mary to help her, we can sense the frustration in her voice, cant we? Its like she says, tell her to get off of her rear-end, get in here and give me some help! She’s just sitting there, not doing anything while I’m am doing all I can to make sure this all goes smooth. Martha is frustrated with Mary. Martha feels Mary can be doing more- that what she is working on is more important. Mary feels that she is right where she needs to be. What was going on in the background was important, and it certainly wasn't something that could be overlooked. Those in Martha’s home needed someone to serve them, but there was more going on in that house than just what Martha was most concerned with. We can sense the division between Mary and Martha, although neither one of them were doing something that Jesus condemned, Jesus’ message was clear: Mary made the better choice.

10:40–42. Despite the cultural importance of hospitality (the food preparation for guests was normally incumbent on the matron of the house), Mary’s role as a disciple of Jesus is more important than anything else she could do.

Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Lk 10:40–42). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.

Mary knew full-well what neede to be done in the kitchen and as far as the serving was concerned.But she understood what we again can find in scholarly commentaries:

There is a need to focus on what is most important, for although serving is good, sitting at Jesus’ feet is best.

Stein, R. H. (1992). Luke (Vol. 24, p. 321). Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers.

You remember earlier when I asked what it was that made for the best distractions? You remember that I said that it was those that we could argue are actually not distractions but they were hill’s worth dying on as Christians? Well, don’t you think that Satan knows this, and laps it up?

The best type of distraction, from Satan’s perspective is 1. a distraction that steals attention from God, 2. Can be labeled as a righteous distraction, and 3. One that turns Christians against each other.

This isn’t a new concept either. Satan has been using tools like distractions since Genesis. Paul dealt with some of this in the churches he pastored. He essentially told them don’t take a non-issue and make it into an issue. He expressed to them the need to be careful when trying to justify the things that would prevent them from fellowshipping with one another as a church. More or less, he told them to exude grace to their brothers and sisters even if there lacked a mutual understanding on non-doctrinal issues- more specifically, on non-issues in general.

Distracted by Distraction- Sequoia National Park, Cell Phones, and Tree Roots

If were not careful, We can let these distractions and the way that other people handle them, become a distraction in and of itself. The danger we risk when we do this, is that it can cause resentment in our hearts towards others, even our brothers and sisters in Christ.

And so, lets be cautious not to make issues out of non-issues. Because when we get to heaven, there will be division- you can be certain of that. But there wont be division over masks or no masks. There wont be division over vaccinated or non-vaccinated. There wont be divisions over left or right, red or blue, democrat or republican. There will be division between those that believe and those that do not. That is why our mission as Christians is important above all else. We don’t have time to be divided- we cant afford division at a time like this.

3. Distraction is Deadly.

I told you I have been off of social media for the past two weeks, but I have made two- five minute exceptions just to check my notifications from one pf my peers in school, and to reply to a message that had been sent to my account. When I opened the Fb app, I noticed a tweet from Greg Stier that a fellow pastor had shared and this is what it said.

I thought about how true this is. Before I logged off of social media, I was overwhelmed at how many people I seen not only handle themselves poorly in dialogue regarding these issues, but also how much time, thought, and effort went into their arguments- and this was for Christians and non-Christians alike. The question that burdened me was How can we fell at peace with having a better, more well-rounded argument for a cloth face covering than we do for the faith that we believe saves our very souls? To Mr. Stier’s point, How can someone claim they are an introvert and cant verbally share the gospel carry on a lengthy, well-articulated argument or conversation about masks, vaccines, sports, politics, fashion, work, finances, stocks, etc. I’m not buying it, and they’re not fooling Jesus, the creator of the universe, the all-powerful, all-knowing, eternal God.

What I don’t want, what I fear might happen following this message, is that you walk away and feel that this was just a rant about masks, vaccines, current events, etc. The fact is, it wouldn't matter what it was, if it is stealing the church’s attention from their mission, causing division within the church, it needs to be addressed. And while it might not be happening within our church, Why wait until it does? The fact is, this message has nothing to do with any of these things in particular but rather recognizing distractions for what they are. They are deceptive. They are divisive, and they are deadly. How are they deadly? Let me ask you a series of questions, and lets see if we can come to an agreement.

What is the mission Jesus Christ commanded and entrusted to His church? Matt. 28:19

Matthew 28:19 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

2. What does scripture say is required before becoming a disciple? John 3:16

John 3:16 ESV

16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

3. And so, If faith is required for discipleship, and it is our requirement as Christians to share that faith, if we are distracted by all of these other things to the point that people identify us by our political stance, or our stance on masks, or vaccines because these are the things we talk and are most passionate about, what good is that doing for our mission?

We do have a tremendous problem as Christians when people, even strangers, are more aware of where we stand on these issues than where we stand in regards to our faith.

I know that many of the things we are seeing today do require some attention. Some are as important as life and death, but why then are we more concerned with delaying the inevitable than we are about making sure people know and have a relationship with Christ? Why are we so laxed about issues that lead to eternal life and death compared to issues that concern only this life?

Later in Luke, Jesus tells his disciples in Luke 12:35-40

Luke 12:35–40 ESV

35 “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning, 36 and be like men who are waiting for their master to come home from the wedding feast, so that they may open the door to him at once when he comes and knocks. 37 Blessed are those servants whom the master finds awake when he comes. Truly, I say to you, he will dress himself for service and have them recline at table, and he will come and serve them. 38 If he comes in the second watch, or in the third, and finds them awake, blessed are those servants! 39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

We cannot afford to be caught off guard. Jesus is telling us to be ready. Now, I know that you might have the thought, “Well, every generation from the time of Christ has thought that he was coming during their day.” I would say that you are correct, there have certainly been those who would argue this. However, I know from personal experience it is oftentimes when you let your guard down and relax when the time comes when you should've been ready. it is so tempting to think that Jesus isnt coming back any time soon, even when the world around us gives us every reason to beleive that it could happen at any moment.

Luke 12:41–47 ESV

41 Peter said, “Lord, are you telling this parable for us or for all?” 42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom his master will set over his household, to give them their portion of food at the proper time? 43 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 44 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions. 45 But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and get drunk, 46 the master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces and put him with the unfaithful. 47 And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating.

We don’t have the time to waste. Eternities are at stake. Right now, as we sit comfortably within the pews of our church, men, women and children o the other side of the world are dying for their faith in Jesus Christ and yet we have been so distracted by temporary trials and tribulations that we cant seem to keep our eyes on the bigger picture, and bigger mission.

Know my heart. This message is not designed to hurt anyone, or at anyone in particular. This is something that Christ’s church is experiencing it, and I feel it my responsibility to call it for what it is- Distraction.

CLOSING

Today, maybe you do or don’t know Jesus Christ. This invitation is unlike most in that I am speaking to both Christians and those who have not made that decision yet at the same time. Whether you know Him or you don’t, set your eyes on Jesus. It is through the eyes of Christ that you will recognize distraction for what it is. Deceiving, divisive, and deadly. It is through the eyes of Christ that you will see the good in others, that you can see past disagreements on non-issues and have a love for one another that can endure opposing opinions. Realize that in Christ, we have the privilege of sharing our faith with others, it is not something that should be forced, or need to be forced. We have freedom from these distractions in Christ. We have freedom from our anxieties in Christ. We have freedom from all that this world has to offer in Christ because what Christ has to offer, is so much greater than anything we will find here on earth. Will you choose today to see through the distraction, and set you eyes and heart on God’s ways? Will you meditate on His precepts and fix your eyes upon His ways? We do not have time to devote to distraction. Place your focus on the mission at hand, and the one who gifted it to you.