The Danger Of Distraction

Be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. Hebrews 3:12

Distractions can undermine the success of a leader. Take Moses for instance. He could have led the people into the Promised Land, but his anger was a costly distraction that led to sin (see Numbers 20:1-12).

Tragically, distractions can do the same thing to today’s leaders. Stuart was a sad example of the dangers of distraction.

Stuart had an unusual talent for relating to teenagers. He was energetic and outgoing. He could laugh with teens one moment and challenge them to take their faith in Jesus seriously the next. Young men and women flocked around Stuart and hung on his every word. He conversed with them effortlessly, and his up-front presentations were engaging. Everyone who knew Stuart understood that he was unusually gifted when it came to influencing the next generation.

But Stuart got distracted. His passion for people was replaced by an interest in pornography. Soon that sinful distraction developed into a sexual relationship with a young lady who worked with him on his church’s volunteer youth staff.

Stuart would have been one of the most influential young men of his generation if he hadn’t gotten distracted. Sadly, the distraction that overtook Stuart turned his life into a story of what might have been.

Do you want to be certain that you will never have to look back on “what might have been” when it comes to God’s calling on your life? You can avoid distractions by remaining focused on Jesus.

Lord, make my love for you and your calling stronger than the distractions that I face.