Setting aside distractions

Summary: According to philosopher Damon Young, distraction is chiefly an inability to identify, attend to or attain what is valuable, even when one is hard-working or content. Very competent people have failed to achieve their best feats due to poor definition of what matters to them or what should be ignored. The things that beg for our attention are not always bad. If they were, we would easily make decisions against them (provided we have the will-power). Many times, they appear as alternative means to achieving our purpose, or at least as issues we can sort and return to our tasks. Many people have left records of unaccomplished dreams to learn from. We must not make similar mistakes. For you to be able to hit your target, you must ignore competing interests, move past the “permissible” route and go, using the proven method of discipline, dedication and diligence.
Texts: 1Kings 20:39-43; Exod. 12:38; Numbers 11:4-6
Discussions
1)    Define distraction in the context of the texts and in contemporary business life.

2)    Using the following scriptural verses, provide examples of things/events that cause distractions
(Gen 13:10)-internal concerns: Lot and the choice of Greenland-(2Sam 13:4-15) immediate gratification; Amnon and his sister; (Num. 11:4-6)The mixed multitude and craving; (Gen 25:32) Esau and the red porridge
-external concerns: Saul and desire to be heroic in getting sacrificial animals/sparing Agag (1Sam 15:15); listening to the old prophet (1Kings 13:15-21); they wanted to make Jesus king by force (John 6:15)

3)    What impact does distraction have on our goals/ambitions and purposes?
-the sad story of the fathers (1Cor 10:1-5)
-David and the punishment for Uriah (2Sam 12:10)
-Saul and the lost throne (1Sam 15:23)
-Luke verse on the servant who does not do what His master asked him to do (Luke 12:42-48)
4)    Effective ways to handle distractions
-disciplines (Luke 9:62) 1Cor 9:25
-keep your eye on the prize (Heb 12:2)
-how did Jesus react when He knew they would make Him King? John 6:15
-how to say NO (let your nay be nay and your yea, yea) James 5:12
-swear to your own hurt and never turn back. Psalm 15:4
-separate from bad company (Neh. 13:3)
Conclusion: As we move in the journey of life, we will be confronted with choices. Those who are able to decide the appropriate responses and/or ignore certain roles end up hitting their targets. Those who live life as it comes are jolly good fellows that are celebrated for the moment only. I choose to be remembered for many lasting impacts in life when I am long gone. What about you?

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