Sermon Snippet –Distracted to Distraction
INTRODUCTION – Some years ago, I listened to a fine sermon entitled “Distracted to Death.” It was thoroughly Biblical, focusing on the things that keep people from salvation. Although this message will certainly deal with that central subject, I also want to consider the things that distract us to distraction – that is, the things that direct our time and energy away from the important matters of life. The parable of the sower, the seed, and the soils in Luke 8:4-15 is our text today, especially verse 14.
1. THE MOST IMPORTANT MATTER IN LIFE IS ETERNAL LIFE
“Parable” (verse 4) is literally “a placing beside,” taking a known truth (always true to life) and using it to explain a previously unknown one. Here, Jesus uses accepted agricultural imagery to show the difficulty of growing crops and the greater difficulty of genuine spiritual growth, of spiritual life eternal. We do not have to seek an interpretation of this well-known parable, for Jesus provides a detailed explanation (verses 11-15). There are many ways to get life wrong (three are considered in the parable); there is only one way to get it right. Jesus proclaimed in John 14:6, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by Me.” His absolute claim demands attention, but the distractions of this life are palpable and powerful, including (from verse 14) emphasis on “cares” rather than the Caretaker, on “riches” rather than the Giver of “every good gift and every perfect gift” (James 1:17), on the “pleasures of this life” rather than the joys of everlasting life. I think often of Demas, who worked alongside the Apostle Paul for a while; Paul wrote at the end of his life, though, “Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica” (II Timothy 4:10a). When Christianity was the new and exciting thing, Demas was interested; but when it became a challenge, he fled. I wonder what specifically attracted him to Thessalonica. No matter what he sought there – wine, women, wealth, worldly ways – I am sure that he was dissatisfied. Even if he had some temporary enjoyment – “the pleasure of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25) – he could not have been a joyful man without Jesus Christ and the certainty of life eternal. Demas chose “the pleasures of this life” – and that is all that he had. His negative example is profoundly sad but very real.
2. THE DANGER OF DISTRACTION EXTENDS TO THE CHRISTIAN
Rarely a day passes in which I do not say to myself, “If I were driving like that person, we would both be dead.” Distracted driving (usually involving phones) is the reason. That principle extends to all of life. Verse 15 focuses on “an honest and good heart” that wants to avoid being distracted to distraction. Certainly we should be alert to the allures of bad doctrine. Large groups teach that “riches” should be the portion of each believer, even though this passage says otherwise (as do many others). Such pagan philosophy is popular, but it is wrong. One of its many failings is that it exalts “the pleasures of this life.” Let us reject this foul dogma. Another helpful test for Christians is to evaluate the power that anything has over us and compare it to clear Biblical imperatives. For example, we are commanded to love our spouses (Ephesians 5:33); whatever distracts us from that goal is a great danger. We are told to be good stewards of all that God has graciously granted to us (I Corinthians 4:1-2); wasteful activities divert us from this reasonable expectation. I Timothy 2:2b presents a general direction of life that is good for all Christians: “That we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” The wise Christian recognizes the personal distractions that move him away from quietness, peaceableness, godliness, and honesty (seriousness of purpose). Any commandment of God is considerate – definitely for our best – and is worthy of our careful consideration. “Does this distract me from the right thing?”; each one of us can and should ask this simple question regularly.
CONCLUSION – This is not an iconoclastic Luddite message about modern technology. “Throw away your cell phone!” is not what I am saying. Rather, we need to apply Biblical principles to all areas of life. We need to consistently and actively direct our attention to the things that matter most. As we have already seen, the most important of these matters is eternal life. Each of us needs Jesus Christ as Savior. Each one of us also need discernment to avoid being distracted to distraction.