Good morning. There used to be an old saying that isn’t heard much any longer, “he couldn’t see the forest for the trees.” What was intended by this remark was that a person could be so distracted by the smaller details that they were unable to see the larger truth.
We read in Luke 11:42 the criticism by Jesus of the Pharisees: “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone.
Jesus doesn’t say that they should have ignored the minor details, He says that they should have cared for those but should never have missed the greater need for justice and the Love of God. The point He is making is that there is a danger in losing our focus, in being so distracted by the “small stuff” that we miss the greater truth and need.
Jesus related this point in another way when a very wealthy young man came to Him asking questions about what is required to be sure of eternity with God. The young man went on to answer the questions correctly, and he probably felt pretty good about himself. It was then that the Lord revealed the truth of life’s priorities: Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” Matthew 19:21-24
The rich young man was too distracted by the comforts of his wealth to understand the glory of eternity. He had fallen into the trap of stressing the unimportant while ignoring the critically important.
However, this is a common trap that rests in all of our paths.
Is it possible to become so distracted by the fact that a young lady has colored her hair with a color that is never witnessed in nature, that we miss the greater truth that she is a wonderful young woman who is worthy of love and support?
Is it possible to be so distracted by the mistake a young man has made, one which led to his being in a bit of legal trouble, that we feel he is no longer trustworthy in any circumstance?
Is it possible to be so distracted by an elderly person’s white hair, wrinkled face, and ears that no longer hear very well that we miss the fact that they continue to be an intelligent person with a wealth of life experience which they would be willing to share if only asked?
Is it possible that we, on any given day, could be so distracted by some of life’s momentary inconveniences that we forget how truly blessed we are?
Is it possible that we all from time to time become so fixated on what is quite unimportant that we neglect what is truly significant, urgent, important, and even essential in our lives? Is it possible that we can’t see the forest because of all those trees?
Unfortunately, I believe that the answer is “yes,” and I believe that it applies to all of us.
Let’s take the time to notice what is important. Let’s give the effort to recognize what and who is a blessing. Let’s open the eyes of our heart and see people as the Lord sees them, the people whom He loves.
There are plenty of reasons to be distracted, but there are plenty more reasons to see the beauty and the blessings that God has placed in our lives this day.
Vern