Focus Point

This blog had a record number of page views this past week, because of what we wrote about a U.S. Senator playing online poker during a hearing.  Thanks to everyone who paid us a visit -- and have inspired us to go deeper into what that Senator did.

Giving Sen. John McCain the benefit of the doubt, he was listening to testimony about Syria while playing poker.  In our day, that's known as multi-tasking -- and it's something we all do to some extent or another.  You may play poker in a room which has sports events on a big screen above you.  Or you may have a job where you type information while answering phone calls.

Did you ever consider God made us with the ability to multi-task?  You can see people and hear conversations while tasting food in a restaurant.  But how well can you do all these things at once?  We suspect utilizing a combination of senses reduces all their effectiveness a little.

When it comes to our lives, we think Jesus would agree:

No man can serve two masters.  Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and Money. - Matthew 6:24

How interesting that the New International Version capitalizes "Money" -- since it can become a god to many people.  But Jesus made it clear that you must choose between God and money as your "master" in life.

If you're living for nothing more than a poker payday, we think you have the wrong master:

Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!" - Acts 8:20

God's gifts, such as the Holy Spirit and eternal life, are priceless.  That is, you can't buy them.  They require a commitment to serve God, above all else.

Come near to God and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. - James 4:8

If you focus on the televised game above you in a poker room, you might miss something at the table and foul up a winning hand.  In the same way, if you focus on things other than God in your life, you might miss a moment when God wants to draw near to you and help you with a big problem or dilemma.

Hebrews 12:1 advises us to throw away everything that hinders or entangles us.  We're to focus on what matters most.  In poker, that can mean your cards.  And in life....

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2