Articles
FOCUS
One week from today, we begin a new calendar year and many of us will be making those New Year's Resolutions once again. As we make our list out once again, what are our spiritual resolutions and goals for the year? Have we made the spiritual goals our priority? If you haven't, may I suggest the following points to help you keep the proper focus in the coming year?
Focus on the Spiritual Things. As Christians, we must live in such a way that others see that we have a different aim in life than the vast majority of the world; we must be spiritually focused, rather than materially focused. All that means is, as a Christian, you must “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:2). Paul would later warn against “covetousness, which is idolatry” (Col. 3:5) — the complete opposite mindset that disciples must have. If we are focused on spiritual things, it would be very difficult to covet anything!
Being spiritually-minded simply means we have as our primary thoughts the spiritual matters, rather than the physical and material things of this world; it means we set our minds on “the things of the Spirit” (Rom. 5:5) and, with a spiritual mind, will pursue the “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22, 23) rather than the “works of the flesh” (Gal. 5:19-21), knowing we cannot do both because “these are contrary to one another” (Gal. 5:17). We set our minds exclusively on the spiritual things because God does not accept a divided heart (cf. Hos. 10:2; 1 Kings 18:21) and attempting to do so is a futile effort.
A spiritual mind will be demonstrated in everyday conversation, with conversations begun with spiritual interests, rather than the mundane. We will speak of our faith, show it by our deeds, and strive to help others know about the spiritual blessings of forgiveness and the hope of eternal life in heaven because, when our focus is spiritual, we will be thinking primarily about their soul, and not their clothing, the neighborhood they live in, or the car they drive. It will also be shown in the life we live, where God is always our priority (cf. Matt. 6:33), and we don't mind ‘missing out’ on many activities the fleshly-minded ones pursue and enjoy; we don't mind ‘missing out’ because we really know something far better!
So in this coming year, focus on building up your spiritual strength, more so than even your physical body; focus on increasing your spiritual knowledge by making Bible study a regular part of your daily schedule; focus on making prayer a regular part of your day; focus on trying to lead lost souls to Jesus; focus on the spiritually-weak brethren that you may encourage, exhort, or rebuke them when possible and when needed; and focus on assembling with your fellow disciples to worship God and study His word every chance you get. These are just some of the things we will focus on if the spiritual things are our priority.
Focus on Jesus. As disciples, in the midst of a world that is becoming increasingly antagonistic towards religion, we must not allow ourselves to be distracted by the trials and persecution that may come our way, instead “fixing our eyes on Jesus” (Heb. 12:2, NASB) that we might finish the race set before us. It is when we take our eyes off of Jesus that we allow the troubles and trials of this world to overwhelm us and cause us to doubt, just like Peter when he walked to Jesus on the water, but then began to sink when he looked around at the boisterous waves (Matt. 14:29, 30). Keeping our eyes on Jesus will prevent us from ‘sinking’ into doubt and fear.
Keeping our focus on Jesus, too, will remind us for whom we live. When we look to Him, we will remember that it was He who “though He was rich, yet for [our] sakes He became poor, that [we] through His poverty might become rich” (2 Cor. 8:9), that it was He who “made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:7, 8), and that it was He who “has loved us and given Himself for us” (Eph. 5:2). With a focus on Jesus, who is in heaven (Col. 3:1), it will be difficult to seek after the worldly things — the things that necessitated Him coming to earth to die for us; when we keep our eyes on Jesus, it will be a constant reminder of the price of sin, and thus a deterrent to us adding to our transgressions.
In this coming year, focus on Jesus a little more…no — a LOT more. Make sure He is in your thoughts every day. Study His word to know what is pleasing to Him, and then do those things. Think of the many ways you can honor His name by showing the world what it really means to be a Christian; show everyone genuine love, compassion, and concern — just as He did — and I would almost guarantee someone will notice, and some will even be thankful. Some might even ask about why you live as you do — and then you have an opportunity to tell them!
Focus on Eternity. As physical beings, it is quite often difficult to look beyond the physical, visible things and look to the non-material, invisible things, but we must, “For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Cor. 5:7). While the visible, material things are easy to see and believe, we are called to look beyond this material world and set our eyes and hearts on what is yet to come. We must not get caught up in the rush to accumulate and seek happiness in material, temporary things, but seek treasures more lasting than the material things of this world. As Jesus put it, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matt. 6:19, 20). We should do so because where our treasure is, our minds will be set there, too (Matt. 6:21).
The wise writer was one who sought happiness in the things of this earth [the things “under the sun”], yet he concluded, “all is vanity and grasping for the wind” (Eccl. 1:14) — and he tried it all! Instead of trying to prove him wrong by pursuing the same futile things, it would be much wiser to listen to someone who knows and re-direct our focus to the things beyond the sun — the eternal things. Since all that is in this world will be burned up in the end (cf. 2 Pet. 3:10-12), we must admit these things will not give us the satisfaction we seek, and these things will not last. As Paul wrote, “we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor. 4:18). Why focus on something that is merely temporary?
In the coming year, try to think daily not about the here and now, try to not get so wrapped up in current events, and not dwell on the drudgery of living in a sin-filled world. Think about the promise of eternal life God has made to the faithful (cf. 1 John 2:25); think about the possibility of eternity in heaven with God, Christ, the Spirit, and the saints of all ages. Make your daily choices based on eternity, not any potential consequences or rewards here on earth. When you do, you might be surprised how your change of perspective changes your attitude, your spiritual fruitfulness, and your daily choices.
Next year, focus on the things that matter. And may God bless you! —— Steven Harper
