The Subtle Way to Waste Your Life: Avoiding Distractions and Busyness

The Subtle Way to Waste Your Life

Imagine being told that you only have five years left to live. What would you do differently? Would you make the most of every moment, or would you continue living the way you have been? This isn't just a hypothetical question. Every single one of us has a limited amount of time on this earth, and it's up to us to decide how we want to spend it.

As Christians, we know that our time on earth is meant to be spent serving and glorifying God. But it's easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and forget that our time is limited. We can waste our lives in subtle ways without even realizing it.

The Danger of Distractions

One of the most subtle ways we can waste our lives is by getting distracted by things that don't matter. We live in a world full of distractions - social media, entertainment, and endless opportunities for leisure. While there's nothing inherently wrong with these things, they can become a problem when we allow them to take up too much of our time.

Think about how much time you spend scrolling through social media or watching TV. While these activities might seem harmless, they can quickly become a distraction from what really matters. Instead of using our time to serve God and others, we waste it on things that don't ultimately matter.

The Bible warns us about the danger of distractions. In Colossians 3:2, we are told to "set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." When we allow ourselves to be distracted by earthly things, we lose sight of the eternal perspective that should be guiding our lives.

The Trap of Busyness

Another subtle way we can waste our lives is by getting caught up in busyness. We live in a culture that values productivity and achievement above all else. We're encouraged to fill our schedules to the brim and take on as many responsibilities as possible.

While there's certainly nothing wrong with being productive and achieving great things, we need to be careful not to let busyness consume us. When we're always on the go, we can easily lose sight of what's truly important. We neglect our relationships with God and others, and we miss out on the opportunities to serve and love those around us.

Jesus warned his disciples about the danger of busyness in Luke 10:41-42. When Martha was distracted by her many tasks, Jesus told her that she was "anxious and troubled about many things," but that Mary had chosen "the good portion," which was to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to his teaching. We need to follow Mary's example and prioritize our relationship with God above all else.

The Importance of Intentionality

So how can we avoid wasting our lives in these subtle ways? The key is to be intentional about how we spend our time. We need to be mindful of our priorities and make sure that we're using our time in ways that align with them.

One way to do this is to set specific goals for ourselves. What do we want to achieve in our spiritual lives, our relationships, our careers, and our personal growth? By setting goals, we can make sure that we're using our time in ways that will help us achieve those goals.

Another way to be intentional about our time is to schedule it out. This might sound rigid or restrictive, but it can actually be freeing. When we have a clear plan for how we're going to spend our time, we can be more present in the moment and less distracted by other things.

The Ultimate Purpose of Life

Ultimately, the reason why we need to be intentional about our time is because we have a greater purpose in life. We were created by God to serve him and bring him glory. When we waste our time on distractions and busyness, we're not fulfilling that purpose.

Jesus said in John 10:10, "I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." This is the kind of life that we were meant to live - a life that is full of purpose and meaning, a life that brings glory to God.

So let's not waste our lives in subtle ways. Let's be intentional about how we spend our time and use it to serve and glorify God. Let's remember that our time on this earth is limited, and let's make the most of every moment.

Conclusion

As we move forward into the future, let's remember the importance of being intentional about our time. Let's make sure that we're using our time in ways that align with our priorities and help us fulfill our purpose in life. Let's resist the temptation to get distracted by things that don't matter and caught up in busyness. Instead, let's live our lives in a way that brings glory to God and fulfills the purpose for which we were created.