We all have spiritual responsibilities. Unfortunately, we do not always meet them. We frequently let these responsibilities slip despite being fully aware of their importance. A study of the Scriptures reveals three significant sources of distraction from our spiritual obligations.
First is pursuing material wealth (refer to Matthew 6.24–34). In this passage, Jesus warns against serving God and the embodiment of wealth, or Mammon. Life isn’t all about material things. We create a spiritual void when we focus solely on meeting material needs. The theologian Augustine referred to this as a “God-shaped blank” within us, emphasizing our innate desire to worship and serve God. If God does not fill this void, something else, most often Mammon, will. Possessions and pleasures can quickly become idols in our lives. However, Jesus assures us that if we prioritize God’s kingdom and righteousness, our material needs, like those of the creatures in His creation, will be met. The problem arises when our faith wanes, and we forget God’s promise. In times of financial difficulty, we may believe it is solely our responsibility to fix things rather than trusting God’s provision. While we must continue to work, like the birds searching for worms, we must not allow anxiety to consume us. Excessive devotion to Mammon causes spiritual suffering and neglect of spiritual responsibilities.
Second, we may pay attention to the wrong things (Matthew 14.28–33). This passage depicts Peter walking on the raging Sea of Galilee, echoing Jesus’ feat. But Peter begins to sink when he starts paying attention to the wind and waves rather than focusing on Jesus. Similarly, the people in our lives might serve to divert our attention from Jesus, which is why 1 Corinthians 5.6 and 15.33 warn us to be cautious. Likewise, worldly concerns, wealth, and pleasures can choke out God’s Word, preventing us from bearing fruit (Luke 8.14). Our faith may wane, just as Peter’s did if we allow the world’s distractions and temptations to consume us. We must constantly refocus our attention on Jesus and place our relationship with Him first and foremost. We can ensure that we continue to grow in our faith and bear fruit for God’s kingdom by doing so.
Finally, we become fixated on minor issues (Luke 10.38–42). In this story, Martha over-prepares because she intends to serve Jesus and His disciples. Jesus corrects her, saying that her sister Mary is doing what is genuinely needed by focusing on her spiritual needs. Too often, we allow valid but minor issues to divert our attention away from our spiritual responsibilities. Brother Maxie Boren gave an example of a congregation arguing over a surplus of bricks rather than focusing on evangelizing their community, which resulted in zero evangelistic efforts. Sometimes, even good intentions can distract us from our spiritual responsibilities, like chasing after money or being in a negative environment. Recognizing that our spiritual needs should always precede trivial matters is crucial. We can better serve our community through the proclamation of the Gospel if we put our spiritual duties first. Maintaining vigilance and not allowing eternally insignificant matters to impede our progress in fulfilling our spiritual responsibilities is critical.
Let us strive to stay focused, fulfilling our spiritual responsibilities and avoiding pitfalls related to wealth, our environment, and trivialities.
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