Week 24: The Wisdom of Spiritual Focus

This week's reading unfolds as follows:

* Ephesians 1-3
* Leviticus 1-3
* 1 Kings 10-13
* Psalms 69-71
* Proverbs 4
* Ezekiel 1-6
* Luke 11-12

One unifying theme in this week's Bible readings is that of wisdom. Paul in Ephesians prayed that we would have it. The Queen of Sheba in 1 Kings witnessed it in Solomon. The Psalmist demonstrated it by turning to the Lord in times of distress. The writer of Proverbs urged his disciples to pursue it as the most precious of treasures. God gave it to the prophet Ezekiel and Jesus chastised the religious leaders for their lack of it.

Scripture
The one passage that brings the theme of wisdom into crystal-clear view is Proverbs 4:20-27:

20 My child, pay attention to what I say.
Listen carefully to my words.
21 Don’t lose sight of them.
Let them penetrate deep into your heart,
22 for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body.
23 Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life.
24 Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech.
25 Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you.
26 Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path.
27 Don’t get sidetracked;
keep your feet from following evil.

Observation
Verses 20-22 offer a compelling rationale for paying attention and internalizing what the sage author of Proverbs is saying: wisdom brings life and healing to those who have it.

Versus 23-27 show us the practical steps by which we obtain wisdom. We get wisdom by (1) guarding our hearts, (2) avoiding perverse talk, (3) staying on track with our faith, and (4) steering clear of evil.

Application
I suggest we consider the key concept that lies at the heart of these practices, which is, in a word, focus.

We are surrounded by countless distractions that come in many forms. Take, for example, "smart phones." They text, tweet, Facebook (used here as a verb), email (verb), Google (verb), YouTube (verb), iTune (verb), and...yes...they can even be used as phones! Go to any public place and you'll find people of all ages glued to that little square device...they are there; yet somewhere else.

There's soccer practice, softball tryouts, bowling leagues, music recitals, dance class, and piano lessons.

There's friend time, family time, and fun time.

There are demands at work, school, and home.

Distractions everywhere!

So how in this world of distractions do we find wisdom?

By following the sage writer's advice:

"Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you" (v. 25).

Often what we call "multitasking" is little more than juggling distractions.

Instead, the writer of Proverbs urges us to practice the spiritual discipline of single-mindedness.

When we are present to what's present, what's right in front of us...whether it's a son or daughter asking a question, an activity like gardening, mowing the lawn, or taking out the trash, or just spending time alone, there is wisdom to be had in being fully present to that moment.

Only when we are fully present to the moment can we be fully present to God's presence. While God is master of all things past and future, we experience God in the now. And if we're always "off somewhere else" in the now, we will miss the sacredness of that moment.

God occupies the ordinary, mundane space of time called "now."

To be present to the present is to be present to God's presence.

Prayer
O Lord, we confess...we are so easily distracted. Please open our eyes and our ears and our hearts to the present. Let us find you in the always-now of life...in Jesus' name. Amen.

May your week be filled with many God-present NOWS!

Faithfully,
Chuck