In this modern world, we are surrounded by distractions that hinder our spiritual walk. They weaken our faith and damage our relationship with God. These distractions can come from many sources, such as wealth or power, or even the worries of our daily lives.
God’s Word warns us and instructs us that the ruler of this world is Satan. He is trying to separate us from God in many ways. When we disbelieve in God and turn away from God for the sake of our desires, we fall prey to Satan’s temptations.
Sometimes we get so busy with worldly activities that we don’t give time to God. The story of Martha and Mary reminds us of how Martha was distracted by all the preparations. On the other hand, Mary was sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to his teachings. Jesus told Mary was doing good work. From this incident, we see that giving time to God is more important than all our activities.
Paul warns Christians not to let the things of the world distract them from God. He urged them to set their minds not on earthly things but on heavenly things. This will help us to focus on God’s eternal promises and not let temporary distractions affect us.
It is very important that temptations can come not only from outside but also from our thoughts and desires. We need to guard our hearts and minds. We need to walk in the path of righteousness by obeying God’s Word.
Let us learn from the parable given by the Lord Jesus, where He praised the wise builder who built his house on rock. Let us also stand firm on God’s Word so that the distractions of the world do not distract us from God’s beautiful plan.
Now, let us look at the following Bible passages that discuss the distractions of the world.
Matthew 11:28-30 : —
“Come unto me, all ye that labour are heavy laden, I will give you restTake my yoke upon you, learn of me; for I am meek lowly in heart: ye shall find rest unto your soulsFor my yoke is easy, my burden is light”
Matthew 13:22 : —
“He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; the care of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, he becometh unfruitful”
Matthew 5:8 : —
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God”
Matthew 6:19-21 : —
“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth rust doth corrupt, where thieves break through stealBut lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, where thieves do not break through nor stealFor where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”
Matthew 6:24 : —
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, love the other; or else he will hold to the one, despise the other. Ye cannot serve God mammon”
Matthew 6:33 : —
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, his righteousness; all these things shall be added unto you”
Colossians 1:10 : —
“That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, increasing in the knowledge of God”
Colossians 3:2 : —
“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth”
Colossians 4:2 : —
“Continue in prayer, watch in the same with thanksgiving”
Romans 12:2 : —
“Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, acceptable, perfect, will of God”
Romans 13:14 : —
“But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof”
Romans 6:12-13 : —
“Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereofNeither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, your members as instruments of righteousness unto God”
Romans 8:5 : —
“For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit”
James 4:4 : —
“Ye adulterers adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”
Luke 12:15 : —
“He said unto them, Take heed, beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth”
Luke 16:13 : —
“No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, love the other; or else he will hold to the one, despise the other. Ye cannot serve God mammon”
Luke 8:14 : —
“That which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, are choked with cares riches pleasures of this life, bring no fruit to perfection”
Galatians 2:20 : —
“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, gave himself for me”
Galatians 5:16-17 : —
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, ye shall not fulfil the lust of the fleshFor the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, the Spirit against the flesh: these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would”
Galatians 6:9 : —
“Let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not”
Philippians 3:13-14 : —
“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, reaching forth unto those things which are beforeI press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus”
Philippians 4:6-7 : —
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto GodAnd the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts minds through Christ Jesus”
Hebrews 12:1-2 : —
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, the sin which doth so easily beset us, let us run with patience the race that is set before usLooking unto Jesus the author finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, is set down at the right hand of the throne of God”
Hebrews 13:5 : —
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”
Hebrews 3:1 : —
“Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus”
Proverbs 23:4-5 : —
“Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdomWilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven”
Proverbs 4:25-27 : —
“Let thine eyes look right on, let thine eyelids look straight before theePonder the path of thy feet, let all thy ways be establishedTurn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil”
Ecclesiastes 5:10 : —
“He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver; nor he that loveth abundance with increase: this is also vanity”
Psalm 119:37 : —
“Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; quicken thou me in thy way”
Psalm 16:8 : —
“I have set the Lord always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved”
Psalm 1:1-2 : —
“Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornfulBut his delight is in the law of the Lord ; in his law doth he meditate day night”
Isaiah 26:3 : —
“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee”
Ephesians 5:15-16 : —
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wiseRedeeming the time, because the days are evil”
Ephesians 6:11 : —
“Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil”
John 14:27 : —
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”
John 15:18-19 : —
“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated youIf ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you”
Mark 4:19 : —
“The cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, it becometh unfruitful”
Joshua 1:8 : —
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, then thou shalt have good success”
Revelation 3:17 : —
“Because thou sayest, I am rich, increased with goods, have need of nothing; knowest not that thou art wretched, miserable, poor, blind, naked”
Titus 2:12 : —
“Teaching us that, denying ungodliness worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, godly, in this present world”