Social media rewards people for views, likes, followers, comments, and shares.

The result is not a quest for the truth, but for something that attracts attention. Post something controversial online that no one else is saying or believing, and it will get liked and shared repeatedly. Weirdly, traditional orthodox views are ignored, and unorthodox ideas are perpetuated across the internet.

It is an apt reminder that when something attracts lots of attention, it is usually because it is abnormal. Out-of-the-ordinary views of scripture and religion have always existed, but now we reward those views monetarily.

The New Testament continually warns us to be on guard against “Wolves in sheep’s clothing.” Well, I would add, “and social media is where they like to attack.”  

I noticed something about myself the other morning. Before I’d prayed a single word or opened my Bible, I’d already checked my phone, scrolled past a dozen stories, and let my mind run ahead into the day’s to-do list. God hadn’t gotten a moment of my attention before my day really started.

We live in a world that’s very good at getting to us first. Every day, something is competing for our attention. Our phones. Social media. Sports. Work. Money. Politics. Entertainment. Hobbies. Our kids. Our schedules.

None of those things are necessarily bad.

But even good things can become a problem when they begin taking the place that belongs to God.

Jesus said, “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness.”

First.

That is the key.

God doesn’t want to be squeezed into whatever time we have left over. He doesn’t want to be the first thing we think about only when life falls apart. He wants to be first in our lives.

So maybe the question isn’t simply, “Do I believe in God?”

Maybe the better question is: “What gets my attention?”

Because what gets our attention eventually gets our time. And what gets our time often gets our heart.

Jesus didn’t say, “Seek my kingdom when you get around to it.” He said, “Seek first.”

Maybe today is a good day to take an honest look at what has been getting our attention and make sure God hasn’t been pushed to the back of the line.

That is an estimate of how many mistakes I have made in the sermons I have preached.

Some came from a lack of theology. When I started, I had read the Bible, but I hadn’t connected the dots, so I said things that seemed correct but were mistaken.

Most came from a lack of experience. In my ministry, I have bounced between thinking people are good and thinking people are basically evil with each new season and how I was being treated. There was also a time when I thought I knew all about parenting, and then I had children. In the early years, I was convinced I knew the best Church leadership practices and how I was to conduct myself as a preacher, only to find a better approach later.

With each new year, I have gained more knowledge and life experience that shows me how foolish I was in my youth. When I sat down and counted them up, I have preached on Sunday mornings roughly 1,716 times. Each time I am sure I said at least one stupid thing.

I know one day I will look back at what I say this Sunday and think, “Ugh.”

Yet God chooses to work through my mistakes. He takes what I lack in knowledge and experience and makes up for it with his Holy Spirit. God uses my imperfect words to accomplish his perfect will.

God doesn’t wait for you to be flawless before He uses you. He will use you despite your imperfections. God is bigger than your faults, and his power is made perfect in weakness.

I have ceased to be amazed at how the media portrays Christians. Watch any movie, TV show, or streaming series, and whenever a follower of Jesus appears, they are usually a nut case. They are portrayed as hypocritical, greedy, mean, abusive, or sometimes downright evil.

They rarely show the Christians who volunteer hours at hospitals, soup kitchens, food pantries, and homeless shelters. And when they do, those Christians are often portrayed as simpletons who have lost touch with reality.

One obstacle we face when sharing our faith is the popular image of Christians in our culture. And most of the time, we overcome that image without saying a word. You will never talk someone into believing you are one of the good Christians. You show them by showing up, giving selflessly, putting others first, and letting your light shine through your actions.

When you live for God, you may sometimes be branded a crazy religious person. If so, be like the people we find in the Bible, and not the caricatures we see on the shows we watch.

One way to accomplish a big task is to break it into smaller steps.

Instead of setting out to read the whole Bible, why don’t you break it into steps? To complete the Bible in a year, you would need to read between 3 and 4 chapters a day. That is about 15 minutes a day for the average reader.

Instead of setting a goal to pray more, start by planning what you want to pray for. Make a list like: prayer for your family, for those who are sick, for your future, for the Church, and whatever else. Then work through each part of your plan. Amazingly, you will pray longer than you originally thought possible.

Success results from completing one small task after another until a large job is done.

I don’t watch baseball as an adult, but a ballplayer from my childhood shaped my life. The Cincinnati Reds of the 1970’s were called “The Big Red Machine,” and they dominated the sport during that time. I was a fan of Johnny Bench and even tried to be a catcher on the teams of my youth. One of the biggest stars of the team was Pete Rose.

Pete was nicknamed “Charlie Hustle.” It started as a joke when players saw him giving a full effort during an exhibition game. Oddly, he embraced the name and wore it like a badge of honor. The idea was that he would give full effort in everything he did. He was especially known for running to first base when a pitcher walked him.

What I loved about Pete was that he seemed like such a blue-collar guy. He didn’t seem to have many God-given abilities like height or speed, but he made up for it with a strong work ethic.

His example, along with my father’s, became a model for my life. I have very few natural skills. I can’t recall ever receiving any handouts from friends or special advancement because of my family tree. Everything I do has come through God’s plan and hard work. I live by the mantra, “Pray knowing everything depends on God, and work as though everything depends on me.”

The Apostle Paul tells the believers in Colossae, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord.” Paul describes his own ministry as hard work in his second letter to the Corinthians and in both letters to those in Thessalonica. Repeatedly, he commends his hard work and the work of others. In fact, heaven is described as a place where we will receive “rest for our labors.”

God loves hard work. Your job is a place where you can serve him by giving a full effort every single day. If you set your hand to a task at your place of employment, a volunteer organization, or in the work of the Church, give it your full effort. Sure, someone may stand back, laugh, and call you “Charlie Hustle,” but I encourage you to embrace it, since the alternative is “Lazy Susan.”

What are you doing with all the time you are saving?

We live in a world where technology is constantly saving us time.

Now we have the power of AI at our fingertips to help us with almost anything. No more spending hours searching the internet for an answer or trying to find a specific picture or video. One simple search, and you have what you need.

We have fast food, DoorDash, dishwashers, smartphones, Amazon, and personal shoppers. All designed to make life faster and easier.

So, what are you doing with all that time you are saving?

We are stewards of the time God has given us.

It would be a shame if all the time technology saves us simply gets filled with more things that keep us busy while we neglect what truly matters.

Saving time is not the goal. What we do with the time we save is what matters.

Most people will never have an opportunity to make a dynamic public display of their faith. They will not be asked to witness to the president, preach to a large congregation, or do anything noteworthy on the internet.

That’s okay. Real faith shows up most in ordinary, everyday moments.

The couple who loves each other deeply after fifty years of marriage.

The mom who teaches her children the Bible before bed each night.

The dad who prays quietly every day for his family and friends, where no one ever sees it.

The businessperson who makes large donations to Christian groups to keep their ministry going without having their actions highlighted in the monthly newsletter.

The college student who keeps themselves from following the cultural crowd while away from home.

The lady who visits an elderly saint regularly to make sure she doesn’t get lonely or need anything.

I hope that if you are ever called on to show your faith in some big, dramatic way, you will be ready. But if not, keep doing the right thing, especially when no one is looking. For yours is the kingdom of heaven.

A college roommate used to brag about his cowboy boots. He had saved up his money and bought some expensive boots made of elephant skin. At least that is what he claimed. They were beautiful, and he told me many times they were virtually indestructible. He claimed they were the best and strongest cowboy boots ever made.

I have thought about those boots numerous times over the years. The thick skin of that elephant has become a metaphor for what it is like to be a Church pastor. You must develop a tough outer layer that is virtually indestructible.

Sadly, some people see a pastor as an easy target for their anger, disappointment, and frustration. I have been accused of all kinds of evil, from hating people to some specific sin. A man led a faction of 80 people out of the Church I was leading. A group once put together a “Pastor Appreciation” video that was actually several people saying that I needed to be a better leader. I have received nasty emails and anonymous notes. People I thought were my friends have left the Church and publicly criticized me. I could write several pages about everything I have experienced in my life and continue to endure. The list of people who hate me is probably longer than the list of those who like me.

Elephant skin is tough. Ministry is tougher.

Why do it then? I mean, most of the people I went to college with have already quit. Only a handful remain in full-time ministry. Why not quit and enjoy a normal life?

The Apostle Paul addresses this in his second letter to the Christians in the city of Corinth. There he writes about his ministry. “We do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” 2 Corinthians 4:16–18.

I continued to do ministry because my eyes are firmly fixed on eternity. What I have experienced is nothing compared to the glory of what lies ahead.

There is nothing this life can throw at me, or at you, that compares to the glories of heaven. Remind yourself, as I do, that when being a Christian is hard, our hope is heaven, and our home is not of this world.

They called him “Dirty Dan.” It wasn’t because he did anything dirty; it was because he loved all things outdoors. He hiked, camped, and even worked on a water conservation project.

Dan’s claim to fame was leading groups of young people on overnight trips. Whenever he did, he brought his ukulele and sang. His songs were mostly about science and nature. They were fun little ditties that made us laugh while teaching us things most children only learned from textbooks.

I thoroughly enjoyed every trip with Dan, and all the students did too. Whenever they saw Dan, they cheered, and the excitement was palpable. He was a local hero to all the fifth- and sixth-grade kids.

You have probably never heard of Dan until now, because his popularity is fairly limited to schoolchildren interested in the outdoors in one little section of the country. Still, there is something great about him. He wasn’t seeking a national spotlight, a huge recording contract, or enormous popularity. He loved the outdoors and wanted to share it with the next generation.

The Church needs more people who are willing to be local heroes. Their popularity might never go beyond the walls of a single Church building, but when they show up, kids get excited and know they will enjoy their time learning about the things of God. Christianity needs more people who simply love Jesus and want to share that with the next generation.