Distractions to Watch Out For
May 7, 2022
Commentary
Distractions are a fact of life. Children must be taught to heed distractions and adults must be reminded as well. It seems like human nature thrives on religious rules and regulations. Paul now gives us three distractions to watch out for:
“Let no man judge you” (vv.16-17). This distraction emphasizes the danger of legalism. The false teachers, in Colosse, were claiming a “deeper spiritual life” for all who would practice the Law. It seems that human nature thrives on religious rules and regulations. It is a popular thing because you can “measure” your spiritual life and even brag about it. We must remember that the Law reveals sin and warns of its consequences but it has no power to prevent sin or redeem the sinner.“Let no man beguile you” (vv. 18-19). The word beguile as it is used here means “to declare unworthy of a prize.” A person competing in the Olympics may violate a rule and forfeit the honor of winning a prize but he does not cease to be a citizen of his country. A Christian who fails to obey God does not lose his salvation but he does lose his rewards.“Let no man defraud you” (vv. 20-23). Paul is not suggesting that Christians should be lawless (I Peter 2:11) but he is warning us not to think we are spiritual because we obey certain rules and regulations. While there are definite connections between physical discipline and health, there is no connection between such discipline and holiness (v. 23).
Application
I must never measure my Christian life by a list of do’s and don’ts but by my relationship with Jesus Christ? I need to watch out for distractions because Christ is all I need.
Colossians 2:16– 23 (NET)
16 Therefore do not let anyone judge you with respect to food or drink, or in the matter of a feast, new moon, or Sabbath days— 17 these are only the shadow of the things to come, but the reality is Christ! 18 Let no one who delights in false humility and the worship of angels pass judgment on you. That person goes on at great lengths about what he has supposedly seen, but he is puffed up with empty notions by his fleshly mind. 19 He has not held fast to the head from whom the whole body, supported and knit together through its ligaments and sinews, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If you have died with Christ to the elemental spirits of the world, why do you submit to them as though you lived in the world? 21 “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!” 22 These are all destined to perish with use, founded as they are on human commands and teachings. 23 Even though they have the appearance of wisdom with their self-imposed worship and humility achieved by an unsparing treatment of the body—a wisdom with no true value—they in reality result in fleshly indulgence.
Illustration: The tactics of roving thieves
A former police officer tells of the tactics of roving bands of thieves: “They enter the store as a group. One or two separate themselves from the group, and the others start a loud commotion in another section of the store. This grabs the attention of the clerks and customers. As all eyes are turned to the disturbance, the accomplices fill their pockets with merchandise and cash, leaving before anyone suspects. Hours, and sometimes even days later, the victimized merchant realizes things are missing and calls the police. Too late. How often this effective strategy is used by Satan! We are seduced into paying attention to the distractions, while evil agents ransack our lives.(Source unknown, Lou Nicholes – Missionary/Author).