Noise Makers

                One of the things I enjoy most about spending time at home is putting on music while I do whatever I need to around the house. In fact, any employment I have had in the past at which I was able to chose my own music I have enjoyed so much more than silent work places. For Christmas this year my son was blessed with all sorts of toys from his relatives many of which sing songs and make lots of noise. When I turn on music now, I have to be prepared for the sounds to mix with the educational songs my son’s toys produce. I enjoy the sound of my son having fun, but today I started to wonder if we do the same thing in our lives with God.

                Sometimes I think that God is working in our town, culture, church, or friends’ hearts, and when we ask the Lord to be a part of it, we bring our own noise makers to the concert. While the Lord is conducting a symphony of beautiful sounds, we distract ourselves with entertainment. I heard it said once that business is one of the enemy’s greatest tools against the spreading of the Gospel. When followers of Christ are busy trying to make sure that we are always entertained, we are distracted from God’s mission.

                This morning I was convicted by John 4:20-21 which says, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For the person who does not love his brother he has seen cannot love the God he has not seen. And we have this command from Him: The one who loves God must also love his brother.” I began to remember how many negative words I have spoken this week about my frustration with society, the church, our neighbors, family members, and realized how wrong I have been. Every morning I read Scripture and am ready to live for God but I began to ask myself how I end up so far from my goal. Filling my mind with entertainment and my time with things that do not matter is in direct contradiction to what I say that I believe. I no longer want to be too busy to actively love those around me.

                Lord, please help me to not get so sidetracked by things that don’t matter. Help me to love those around me with my words and with my actions. Help me to play as part of your symphony instead of just making noises. Amen.