Colossians III
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8 ESV)
Fun Distractions
Many years ago, a friend and I rebuilt a 1965 Chevrolet Panel Truck. In today’s jargon, it was an SUV. We bought it cheap, and planned to upgrade the engine, refinish the exterior, and pep up the interior.
It was our summer project. We planned to use all of our spare time (we each had paying summer jobs) and sell it in September for a profit, after learning some things about mechanics, painting, and decorating.
We were successful, but over the summer we had a lot of arguments.
Was it worthwhile replacing all of the interior lights with faux chandeliers? Did we really need to individually polish each lug nut? How many coats of dark blue pain were really required to create the illusion of deep water? Should we carpet the ceiling as well as the floor and walls of the back chamber?
And as we researched, we found ourselves distracted by so many new areas of knowledge. Which motor oil is best for which season? What is the exact amount of air pressure for the rear tires, as opposed to the front? Which shades of blue and off-white best create the appearance of water moving? What style of seat would impress the girls of our school? Or not?
None of those decisions or areas of knowledge were a waste of time. But most of them were distractions from our intended goal.
So, too, are many of the things on which we spend time. College football is entertaining, but it might be a stretch to explain how it improves my walk with Jesus. Evaluating the latest Internet Conspiracy Theory might seem like a search for truth, but it rarely leads to more knowledge of God’s Amazing Grace. Learning four new ties for fly casting might improve your peace and relaxation at some point, but it does not easily lead to a better grasp of Christ’s peace.
Those things are not bad, evil, or a waste.
But they might be a distraction for you. Evaluate your use of time by seeing how readily such things shine a light on Jesus… and then figure out how to shine MORE, or find better reflectors.