According to Wikipedia, distraction is the process of diverting the attention of an individual or group from a desired area of focus and thereby, blocking or diminishing the reception of desired information. Distraction can either be internal or external which if not controlled can eventually become a habit. Research reveals that on the average we experience an interruption every eight minutes or about seven or eight distractions per hour. This implies that in an eight-hour day, we can experience up to 60 interruptions. The average interruption takes about five minutes, so that is about five hours out of eight. This has a catastrophic impact on individual productivity.  There is no generation that has been so distracted as ours. From the computer to the smartphone and social media; from computer games to movies; from the quest for earthly luxury to the chase to live in outer space and other planets, the list keeps getting longer by the day. Though good, if these things are not properly handled, they might become a big source of distraction to us. There is no time where the biblical counsel by the wisest king of Israel finds relevance as in our time – “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The counsel to ‘keep your heart’ is very important in curbing distraction because the heart is the first victim of distraction.

There is no time where the biblical counsel by the wisest king of Israel finds relevance as in our time – “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). The counsel to ‘keep your heart’ is very important in curbing distraction because the heart is the first victim of distraction.

Causes of Distraction  

The Cares of this World and the Deceitfulness of Riches: In a bid to ‘make ends meet’ or meet up with the trendy happenings in our time, many tend to be swayed from the true essence of life. Christ, in His parable of the Sower, said of the seed that was sown among thorns: “He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful” (Matthew 13:22). The endless pursuit of riches at the expense of an intimate relationship with God can be a very big distraction. The Psalmist calls it a vain pursuit: “It is vain for you to rise up early, to take rest late, to eat the bread of [anxious] toil – for He gives [blessings] to His beloved in sleep” (Psalm 127:2 AMP). The Apostle Paul in his letter to the young Timothy revealed the capacity of the love of money to lure its victim to destruction. He cautioned: “But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness” (1 Timothy 6:9-11). After His discussion with the rich young ruler, Jesus said to His disciples, “Children, how hard is it for them that trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:24b). To trust in riches is to be distracted from God. It is the deceitfulness of riches that lures young men to leave school halfway in search of quick money through ritual killing, robbery, kidnapping for ransom, hired assassination, internet fraud, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and the like. These are all distractive tendencies that lead to damnation. 

The Wrong Company: It is true that our company has great impact on us. The Word of God proves this truth in 1 Corinthians 15:33 when it says, “Do not be deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character [AMP]”. Many a person can never attain their God-given potentials due to the kind of friends they keep. You cannot see beyond your company. The wise king Solomon said: “Become wise by walking with the wise; hang out with fools and watch your life fall to pieces” (Proverbs 13:20 MSG). Many have abandoned their families, learned destructive habits, lost useful relationships and opportunities because of wrong association. It causes setbacks. You cannot be at your best neither can you achieve set goals if you’re drifting away with the wrong company. Young people are very prone to this cause of distraction. The moment you begin to hang out with the wrong friends, you’re distracted from your life’s purpose and your commitment towards fulfilling purpose plummets. I met a young man in the north central region of Nigeria some years ago. When I met him, he had absconded from the university because he was initiated into cultism through association with the wrong company. He left the university in his fourth year. By the time he came to his senses, his university mates had graduated, completed the mandatory one-year National Youth Service program, were working and some, married. At that point, he only discovered that he had been distracted and wasted several years chasing frivolities. Having lost his educational opportunity, family (he was disowned by his parents), and his life under threat by a rival cult group, he was left with no option than to respond to Christ’s call. These are some consequences of choosing the wrong company.

You cannot be at your best neither can you achieve set goals if you’re drifting away with the wrong company.

Information, Communication and Technology Devices: These include smart phones, computers, television, and other technological devices. They are not in themselves bad, but how we use them can either enhance our traction towards fulfilling destiny or constitute a big distraction that can mar our lives. These technological devices are a great source of knowledge which confirms the prophecy of Daniel that “…many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase” (Daniel 11:4b). In August 2018, research from the UK’s telecoms regulator, Ofcom, reported that people check their smartphones on average every 12 minutes during their waking hours, with 71% saying they never turn their phone off and 40% saying they check them within 5 minutes of waking. Even the producers of these devices know how dangerously addictive they can become if not properly handled. During a joint press conference with then – Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Microsoft Corp. Co-Founder Bill Gates, made a statement that caught the attention of the press. He stated, “My kids get limited computer time. Just because you are the daughter of Bill Gates does not mean you get to play on the computer all day long”. According to him, he looks for ways of balancing technology for learning and social interaction while recognizing the perils of overindulgence. The late Steve Jobs, Apple Inc. Co-Founder, echoed Gate’s reservations about technology’s impact on his own family. In a 2011 interview with The New York Times shortly before he passed away, Jobs said he banned his kids from using the newly released iPad. In his words, “We don’t allow the iPad in the home. We think it’s too dangerous for them in effect”. As good as these devices are, they can constitute a great distraction and become an idol in our lives. The Bible provides a guide through the Apostle Paul in handling this world’s goods as he wrote: “Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or be brought under its power” (1 Corinthians 6:12 AMP). As the world advances, we would see more breathtaking technological devices almost daily, and if we’re not very careful, we can easily settle for the immediate and lose the ultimate purpose of God for our lives. These technological devices are meant to make life easier and more comfortable. As much as we cannot totally avoid them, we must use them with caution so as not to become addicted to them while losing touch with our Maker. 

Effects of Distraction

Reduction in Productivity: It’s been discovered by research that repeated distractions affect concentration. In 2005, a research by Dr. Glenn Wilson, at the London’s Institute of Psychiatry, found that persistent interruptions and distractions at work had a profound effect. Those distracted by emails and phone calls saw a 10-point fall in their IQ. The research concluded that constant interruptions can have the same effect as the loss of sleep. Distraction diverts the energy that should have been used for a productive venture into that which is not needful for the time. No man can give his best with continuous distractions. The more distracted we are from our life’s assignment, the less productive we become. Christ’s response to the two distracted men who excused themselves from immediately following Him was: “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back [to the things behind] is fit for the kingdom of God” (Luke 9:62 AMP). The Apostle Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 9:26, that “So I run straight to the goal with purpose in every step. I am not like a boxer who misses his punches”. In order not to lose sight of purpose, we, like Paul must maintain a straight course, and make the most of every moment to reach the finish line.   

Distraction diverts the energy that should have been used for a productive venture into that which is not needful for the time.

Procrastination: A notable effect of distraction is procrastination. The statement, ‘Procrastination is a thief of time’ holds true when we allow ourselves to be constantly distracted. The more distracted we are, the more we keep pushing today’s tasks into tomorrow, forgetting that tomorrow has its own numerous demands. Christ made a case for ‘tomorrow’ while encouraging us not to worry about our daily needs (Matthew 6:34). Procrastination is like spending an amount of money you’re yet to earn; it is eating into tomorrow, while wasting today. As the days go by, life’s demands on us get weightier. We must therefore be more responsible to be able to manage each day’s demands appropriately. So, allowing distraction to push today’s demands into tomorrow will end up leaving us confused and causing setbacks in every area of life. Distraction limits progress through procrastination and we’re left perambulating in a cycle of unproductive ventures. Let’s not be like the two men who procrastinated to respond to Christ’s call with flimsy excuses. In response to them Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.” (Luke 9:59-61 MSG).

Distraction limits progress through procrastination and we’re left perambulating in a cycle of unproductive ventures.

Waste of Precious Time on Frivolities: When distracted, we tend to leave undone what needs to be done and expend so much energy and time on things that aren’t the priority or completely off our to-do list. King Solomon drew our attention to the fact that God has allotted time to every phase and activity of life (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). It is our responsibility to manage our time on earth properly and not misappropriate it through distractive endeavours.  Distraction steals the time for the important and urgent tasks and allocates it to the less important or unimportant ones. With the understanding that time is life, distraction rubs us a significant part of our lifetime, making us less productive in life. At the end of our time on earth, no excuse can suffice for not maximizing our time to fulfil our life’s assignment because of pressing distractions. The word of God makes it clear that we’re inexcusable (Romans 2:1) because God has made adequate provision of time and resources to help us accomplish our life’s assignment.  

Waste of Resources: One of the effects of distraction is the mismanagement of resources. Your resources (financial, material, spiritual, natural, etc.) flow in the direction of what gets your attention the most. True to this statement, Christ cautioned, “Lay not for yourselves treasure upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves breakthrough and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19, 21). Christ does not in any way condemn investing or saving for a legitimate and productive future endeavour but warns against misappropriating our God-given resources while being focused on the wrong things. For instance, a young man who is lured into doing drugs, will waste his resources on getting and taking these drugs at all costs. He can go as far as selling his valuables at very cheap rates only to squander the money on drugs which in the long run destroys him. Same goes for gambling, womanizing, partying, and the likes. These victims of distraction can neither save nor invest on the right thing that would add value to their lives, they rather spend their resources in the direction of their lustful cravings.   

Irrespective of where we live or what we do, distractions would always knock at our door. Everyone has one form of distraction or the other, the crux of the matter is in the way we handle them. 

There will be a second article on this subject which will seek to provide some biblical counsel on how to overcome pressing distractions.

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