FOCUS

There has never been a time in history where life has been any busier than now. We are flooded with information, opportunities, and duties for families, jobs, individuals. How often do you find yourself “multitasking”? As a society we struggle to find focus. One way that we cope with the amount of “stuff” is to compartmentalize. This enables us to bring order to chaos. We compartmentalize work, family, chores, hobbies and even our spiritual lives. Monday through Friday from 8-5 is work time. After 5 is family time. We might squeeze in an hour or two for personal time. God is 15 minutes in the morning, 5 minutes at night and Sunday between the hours of 9:45 and 12. This is how many of us structure our lives. The numbers and days maybe different but this is how many of us try to find balance in our lives. What if we have been using the wrong model? What if God does not want to be compartmentalized. In Matthew 6:31-33, Jesus teaches us to “seek first the kingdom of God”. If you are going to seek the kingdom, then naturally you will seek the King. Jesus does not want to be ‘a part’ of your life. He does not want to be one item among many. Jesus wants to be the filter by which you make decisions about your day and about your goals in life. Jesus wants to be there first thing in the morning when we wake up. He wants to be there to talk with us as we drive to school or work. He wants to help us set the agenda for the day and to help us interact with friends, students and coworkers. Our lives become a place of worship and an opportunity to be a missionary. Work and school become more than a place to survive but a place to be salt and light. Doing our taxes becomes a place to see God’s faithfulness. Vacations are not only a time to rest but also time to enjoy God’s creation. Marriage and parenting become a place to see God’s goodness and enjoy His gifts. When we choose to see our world and our lives through Jesus, we see the world differently. Do we still have struggles? Absolutely. Will there still be projects at work and school that are stressful? You better believe it. When Jesus becomes the filter in which we view the world He does not change our circumstances but our perspective. Take some time this week to see where you place Jesus in your life. Is He one part of life or is He life itself?