TODAYS BIBLE READING:
 

I have experienced speaking to someone as they scan the room for someone else. Their responses are generally appropriate but devoid of much emotion. This often leads me to believe that I am relatively unimportant to this individual. Though many claim to be good at multitasking, we must be careful what we mean by this. If this means performing multiple tasks with divided attention at the same time, most probably fail miserably. If it means being able to quickly refocus our attention on one issue after another despite distractions this is the more admirable quality. Divided attention, like divided loyalties might sound good, but miss the mark. Some distractions, such as occur with children are inevitable, others are sought out. Like the person scanning the room in the conversation, those addicted to porn are only partially engaged in their relationships. A few staggering numbers include over 42 million porn websites with total revenue over the NFL, NBA, and MLB combined. 94% of all children are exposed by age 14. 68% of Christian men and 50% of pastors have issues with pornography. 87% of Christian women have watched porn. Over half of all divorces involve one of the parties being obsessed by porn. Why all of these numbers? Because they are real, they are affecting people everywhere, and though many who are addicted feel they can divide their attention and multitask, quite honestly, they can’t and they don’t.

​

There is a reason why God clearly gave the basis for marriage in Genesis 2:24, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” We see the situation with Jacob who had two wives and two concubines. It didn’t work. Feelings were hurt. He couldn’t multitask, each one noticed when they were or were not the object of Jacob’s attention. In fairness, Jacob, who was a master manipulator, was outmaneuvered and tricked into marrying Leah, the older sister. It says in Genesis 29:31, “When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren. Some translations actually use the phrase that she was hated by Jacob. Over the ensuing chapters we see this continuous tug-of-war for Jacob’s love and attention which often spilled over to the children. God’s program works, polygamy or for that matter anything which takes our eyes or attention off our spouses is detrimental to marriage. Jesus is the perfect illustration of absolute focus. In Luke 15:4, Jesus said, “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it?” Jesus when surrounded by the multitudes could just have easily just healed them all with one word. But His purpose was to reach individuals. Though distractions surrounded Him, like a laser beam He directed His attention onto one individual after another. For that moment only that individual was focused on and felt the fullness of His love. Though he was walking with Jairus on the way to his house in Matthew 9:18-26, He pivoted and directed His attention to the woman who was bleeding for twelve years. He touched her both physically and spiritually at that instant. Jesus is our Savior and also should serve as our example of what it means to lift others up, letting them know just how important they are to you.

​

Notice when Jesus called Matthew in Matthew 9:9, He simply said “Follow me”. He didn’t say to continue to collect taxes and spend a little time with Him. He asked Matthew and He asks us to stop dividing our attention and our affections. Many think they can walk with one foot in the world and one foot with God, but it doesn’t work that way. Like any other form of divided loyalty, only one side will win. In our walk with God, He is either Lord of every aspect of our lives or He is not. If we choose to give Him slivers of our lives, our lives will show the results of this divided loyalty. In our marriages, our spouses know if our attention is on them or divided. When we are with our children, are we focused on them or are our heads buried on our phones instead, letting them know that our attention is divided. As we continue to move through Scripture, may we notice and emulate our Savior. His schedule and responsibilities far outweighed our own, yet He masterfully let each individual know just how important and loved they were to Him.