Into the Shallows

I read an account recently about a number of killer whales that mysteriously beached themselves and died. When the marine biologists investigated, they found that the whales were not seeking the larger fish found in the deeper waters but were chasing smaller fish in the shallows. Specifically, they were chasing minnows. They gave their lives running after something small.

Do you ever have moments when you stop and think, “What is the real size of the things I pursue?” Seemingly-noble ideas may occupy much of our time, energy and thought, but at heart, are those the things for which we are willing to spend our lives?

A late friend of mine would sometimes say to me, “You know what you need? New perspective.” Looking at how you spend your life will give you that much-needed, new perspective. Do you find yourself pursuing lesser things more than the things of God? Is your time occupied by putting out temporal fires rather than burning with a passion fixed upon the eternal? Do you chase an itch that turns into a perpetual flea hunt? And, probably like you, I have looked back on times of worry, concern and meaningless pursuits and wondered, “Why did I give that so much of my time instead of focusing on the mission from God?”

Paul had the right perspective. He wrote to the church at Corinth, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). One thing was on his mind: a single-minded focus upon the task at hand given to him by God. If he was going to spend his life (which according to history, he did) on something, it would be something worthwhile, lasting and of eternal importance.

Let’s stop chasing minnows into the shallows.    

Pray that…

We would choose the Christ-centered focus in every situation. - Luke 10:41-42 But the Lord answered her, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her."

We will remain undistracted by anything that would draw our attention from full devotion to God. - Luke 9:62 Jesus said to him, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."

We would not become bogged down by the successes or failures of the past when pursuing Christ. - Philippians 3:13-14 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Our minds would be fixed upon eternity. - Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.