Yesterday, I was asked to offer ‘Sticky Faith’ (the children’s message) at St Paul’s UMC in Carolina Beach….here is my message:
On Friday I had the opportunity to go to Pinehurst NC to attend the Women’s US Open Golf Tournament. It was great to be able to see the best women golfers in the world! While there I got to see Lucy Li play. She’s a 11 year old phenom, which is someone (usually young) with extraordinary talent at something. There were huge crowds on hand to watch her at every hole. I am not sure how she was able to play with all that distraction.
When we arrived at the tournament, we were given a map that listed the tee or start times for every player.
On this paper there was a notice:
“Spectators should keep in mind that the players’ first responsibility this week is to compete for the national championship.”
They didn’t want spectators to take pictures, or ask for autographs, or distract the players from their goal….trying to win the championship.
In 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 Paul tells us “Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable prize, but we an imperishable prize.”
We are called to be the best Christians we can be. We are working toward the prize of eternal life. But just like in the golf tournament it is easy to become distracted from our goal by those around us. Our first responsibility is to behave as Christ.
We may not live a life where people clammer for our photo, or autograph. People may not follow us and cheer or jeer at what we do. However, people can and do distract us! It is easy to get distracted by the praise or criticism of others. Friends or even family can distract us from mediation, from reading and studying, or from service to others.
We must keep our eye on the prize. Let’s work hard this week to not be distracted from our goal.
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