Focused on the Important

We live in a world of distractions. We are constantly bombarded by people and things wanting our attention and wanting our attention now.  Things that seem urgent can take the focus off things that are important. As a society we have forgotten how to disconnect. Phones are constantly going off with notifications from apps and social media. We have a constant stream of news and opinions flooding our consciousness. With so much vying for our attention we can lose focus on what should be a priority.
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When Jesus heard [of it], he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard [thereof], they followed him on foot out of the cities. And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. Matthew 14:13-14

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Even Jesus got distracted by the urgent. He took a ship to a desert place so He could take some time apart. He needed a time to refresh and renew Himself, but when He got there a multitude was waiting for Him. They had urgent needs and in His compassion, He couldn’t turn them away. He not only healed their sick but He fed them as well. When He fulfilled the urgent, He sent them away and His disciples. Now Jesus could focus on the important. He set himself apart in the mountain and prayed.

​Later in that same chapter Peter was distracted by the urgent. Jesus had told the disciples to take the ship and go to the other side. When the ship was in the midst of the sea a storm came up. The wind and waves tossed the ship back and forth.  In the middle of that urgent storm Jesus came walking on the water.

 And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth [his] hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? - Matthew 14: 26-31 KJV

The storm was an urgent distraction that took Peter’s eyes from Jesus. Urgent distractions are usually legitimate needs. We have to be careful that their legitimacy doesn’t keep us from the importance of other needs. Jesus was already walking into their storm to save them, but Peter took his eyes off his Savior to focus on the problem. We can be guilty of the same thing. We can get so focused on the problems around us that we take our eyes off of Jesus.

Sometimes what seems like an urgent distraction isn’t really as important as we think. Worth is the importance we place on something.  We have to ask ourselves if the urgent is really worth the effort and time to put it over the important.

But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her. - Luke 10:40-42 KJV

To Martha the urgent need was serving Jesus and His disciples. Serving was a legitimate need. Hungry people needed feeding. Dishes needed washing. She wanted to take care of those she cared about. The problem was she let the urgent keep her from the important. Some of what she was doing probably didn’t have to be done right then. She let the urgent consume her so much that she even fussed to Jesus about it.  Jesus just reminded her that something was more important and needful.

Not only can we be distracted by the chaos of the world around us, but we can be distracted by the acts of serving Jesus. We become so focused on serving, we lose focus on the importance of our relationship with Him. Serving is necessary and important, but we can’t let serving take the place of our relationship with Jesus. Just like Martha, when serving takes the place of relationship we get disgruntled and have a bad attitude. On the other hand when we take the time to first develop our relationship with Jesus, then service is not a hardship but an outward extension of that relationship.

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Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14 KJV
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Just like Paul, I haven’t made it yet. Sometimes it is a daily struggle to keep the urgent at bay, so I can focus on the important things. Sometimes you have to press through the chaos and distraction. But above everything my relationship with Jesus must come first in importance. My eyes have to be focused on Him.
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“Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in his wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
​In the light of his glory and grace”

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