"Wisdom Cries Out"
Refuse to Be Distracted
“Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” (Proverbs 4.26-27)
Godly living is all about consistency. It is a “way” of life (see Proverbs 2.20; 4.11; 6.23) where we practice righteousness (1 John 3.7-10). But consistency requires focus; and focus takes planning and preparation. We have daily choices to make which are motivated and determined by where we want to end up.
Lewis Carrol said, “If you don’t know where you’re going, any path will get you there.” His point is that it is easy to go with the flow, but it doesn’t accomplish anything. The Proverbs repeatedly warn of the consequences of going with the flow and living an unexamined life (see Proverbs 1.10-19; 5.1-6; 6.12).
If you want to find fulfillment, you cannot make choices that distract from where you want to be. There is a reason racehorses wear blinders: to narrow their focus and reduce distractions. Whether it is life or spiritual goals, you will not succeed if you allow peripheral activities to occupy your time.
For the Christian, the goal is to finish the race well by doing the will of God (1 Corinthians 9.24–27; 2 Timothy 4.7). The writer of Hebrews exhorts us to "run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12.1–2).
The wise person refuses to be distracted from this goal. They don’t digress to enjoy temporary pleasure. There make no concessions for wasted time. They press on and make every choice in light of the future, empowered by hope in Jesus (Philippians 3.14; 4.8).
The difference between who you are and who you want to be are the choices you make today. Where will your choices take you today?
“Let those of us who are mature think this way...” (Philippians 3.15)
