A few years ago, I took my first ever trip to the eye doctor. I wasn’t sure what the trouble was, but my eyes were bugging me. I always had great vision. I was even told at one time that I had better than normal vision. I could spot geese and ducks flying in the air from miles away. I could read road signs from such a distance it amazed my family. But now I was having trouble reading things up close. My eyes weren’t focusing like they used to. So when the eye doctor came back in and told me that this was just part of getting older, and that it was normal to start losing the fine focus I once had, I had mixed feelings. I had no real eye problem – that was good, but I didn’t like the fact I was getting older and my eyes were getting weaker. He recommended I purchase reading glasses and enlarge my font on my phone and computer. Reading glasses! Are you kidding me? That was what my mother wears. That’s what my grandparents wore. I did not like the prognosis.
In life, we choose to focus on different things – regardless if we have good or bad eyes. Some people focus their time and energy on work. Some people focus on their family. Some people focus on fitness and eating healthy. Some people focus on helping and serving others. Some people focus on sports and recreation. Some people focus on politics and government. Everyone focuses on something whether you’ve thought about it or not – your time and money will prove this. Of the aforementioned topics, none of them are bad in and of themselves. Heck, I love my family, I love to hunt and watch sports, and I like to work out. But when hunting or working out begin to take time away from my family, or opportunities to help and serve others, then I’ve got a problem.
I think it’s safe to say, especially after reading and thinking about this topic, that most people are self-focused. They do things to please themselves and to meet their own needs and wants – whatever that may be. The one area I have yet to mention is our focus on God. And this is the most important of all. If we are focused on God and becoming more like him, we look to serve and love others like never before. We forgive others, we show grace and mercy, and are humble and unified in Christ. Focusing on ourselves brings division, conflict, frustration, anger, jealousy, etc.… Read the two verses below and see which one you currently are, and which one you’d like to be. Both were written by the Apostle Paul. One is the effect of being in a relationship with God (Holy Spirit) and the other is without God.
Galatians 5:22-23 ~ But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
2 Corinthians 12:20 ~ For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior.
“Dear Lord, help us to be less focused on ourselves and more focused on you. Forgive us for being selfish and self-centered. Humble us and unify us toward one cause – and that’s on you. It’s in the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.”