Don’t chase shiny objects.

By Pastor Newton Fairweather

Faith and Joy Church

Recently I was talking with a good friend of mine. A few minutes in the conversation, we got on the subject of distractions. He said to me: “learn not to chase shiny object” I ask him what did he mean? He went on to explain to me that fishermen will tell you that they often use shiny laurels to catch Barracudas. He further explains to me that they are attracted to shiny objects, thinking that it is the skin of other fishes that they like to eat. As we conclude our conversation and I got home I said to myself there is some seed of wisdom that this can be applied to in my daily life. Upon further investigation I discovered that indeed Barracudas are attracted to small fish that have shiny skin.

In today’s culture there are so many shiny things that we often find yourself chasing after them. Once we catch up to them like the Barracuda we discovered that they are not good for us. What is your shiny object that you chase after? Chasseing after shiny object will have a great impact on your time, talent and treasure. Shiny object robs you of time that can never be recovered. Shiny object robs you of your talent when you don t accept what GOD has gifted you in. Shiny object will rob you of treasure that you did not invest wisely. Just ask the guys and girls who invested in certain coins, just because someone says the name of that coin. What are some shiny object you can stop chasing after? Let me give you a few I have eliminated. I don’t watch television as much, I am watching what I eat, just because it looks good in a TV commercial, does not mean I have to buy it. I don’t need to have my cell phone on everywhere I go. I don’t need followers to validate who GOD says I am. Yes, I have eliminated chasseing some shiny things. I have also added some. More time taking care of my body, more time walking and spending quite time with God. The most important shiny thing that I have added is a designated night of prayer with my kids who are away in college. This has been the most satisfying for me as I see them grow up leading their life’s chasing their own shiny things.

What shiny object can you stop chasseing? One of the major weapon of the adversary is to distract us from seeing what GOD is trying to show and teach us.

Ps. 42:1 “As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God.”

Mat.6:33 “(33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”