Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. (1 Tim. 6:17-18)

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Pay Attention To Your Walk

Photo by enggul
People Are Clueless

We live in an ADD (Attention Defecit Disorder) culture. I don't think there's any shocking news there. We have a tendency to bounce around from one interest to another. But, who can blame us? When you've got iPhones, iPads, WiFi internet, TVs, Wii's, music playlists, Kindle's, and many other things that pull us in different directions, we're going to get distracted in life.

The problem is that we can get so distracted by these other things that we stop paying attention to some other more important parts of our lives; things like our physical health, mental health, rest, relaxation. Author Stephen Covey would call these areas "Sharpen the Saw." They are not urgent, emergency areas, but they are vitally important to our overall well-being.

Our spiritual life should be included in this list as well. This is an area that has a tendency to get neglected by Christians. Because the spiritual disciplines of the Christian life are important but not "urgent," they get pushed to the back burner for a more convenient time. The problem is that in most cases, there is no other "convenient" time. If it's truly important but not urgent, we have to make our spiritual lives a priority. We have to work Scripture reading, prayer, church attendance, and so on into our schedule.

Time To Get A Clue

This problem even existed in the days of the Apostle Paul. In Ephesians 5:15-17 (NIV), Paul wrote:
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Paul encourages the church at Ephesus to be careful to live a wise life. Because our time on earth is so short, we need to make the most of every opportunity that the Lord gives us. When we have a good understanding of what God's will is for our life, then we can walk in wisdom.

In order to do this, though, we have to pay attention to our walk with Christ. If we're truly believers in Jesus, then our relationship with Him is going to become a high priority.

Ways To Get A Clue

So, if you're having difficulty paying attention to your walk with Christ, what are some ways in which we can start paying attention? Obviously, God's Word is going to be our guide, our roadmap if you will, on how to live a life full of wisdom. God speaks to us through the Bible, so we have to read it to hear Him speaking to us through it.

Also, we need to be sensitive to the speaking of the Holy Spirit in our life. Through our study of the Scriptures and communing with God in prayer, then the Holy Spirit can reveal truth to our spirit.

Finally, having a close network of a few friends that can help you get a clue by keeping you accountable in your walk with the Lord. These friends need to be "true friends" that are willing to speak the truth to you in love when you're acting foolish and not wise as Paul talks about in these verses in Ephesians. Being active in your church each week is a first great step to building relationships with fellow believers with whom we can be accountable to one another.

Are You Clueless?

So, Christian, have you been clueless and not really paying attention to your walk with Christ? Have you been living foolishly and letting really great opportunities to live out your faith slip right through your fingers?

Maybe it's time to finally get a clue and make your walk with Christ a higher priority. I would encourage you today to reprioritize the daily disciplines of your walk with the Lord. So, don't put it off. Today's the day to start paying attention.

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