“And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men.” (Colossians 3:23)
I started a yard project not long ago. I hired someone to clear out some overgrown trees and brush so I could open up more usable ground. It seemed simple enough, but within days, I noticed something. My mind was being distracted from my relationship with God. I’d wake up thinking about where the flower beds should go, what kind of trees to plant, and how to develop the new space. During my quiet time with God—the actual reason I get up at 5:15 a.m.—I would catch myself gazing out the window, thinking about landscaping.
That’s when it hit me: The enemy doesn’t need to hand me something evil to pull me off course; he just needs to get me distracted by something good. I mean, what does my yard REALLY do for me? God does SO much more and deserves ALL my first thoughts and most persistent passion, right? Martha fell into this trap. She was serving Jesus—cooking, cleaning, and hosting the Lord Himself in her home:
And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:39-42)
Martha’s devotion was real but good service turned into worry that crowded out the best blessing—sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary did. God warned His people about this pattern before they entered the Promised Land:
When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you… lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them… then your heart is lifted up, and you FORGET the LORD your God. (Deuteronomy 8:10, 12, 14)
It wasn’t poverty that made Israel forget God. It was abundance. Good land, good houses, and good herds. Blessings produce a strange gravity that can pull our attention toward the gift and away from the Giver. I see this same force in more than my landscaping project. When a case at work gets heavy and complicated, I find myself replaying it in my head during the time I’d normally spend in prayer. When I get to see my children, I often slack on my God time. None of these things—the yard, the job, or my children—are evil. They’re gifts.
But the enemy is skilled at taking what God gave for our good and using it to edge God out of the picture entirely.
Here’s the difference between his tactics and God’s:
The enemy takes good and twists it toward evil; God takes evil and works it against itself for good.
Joseph said to his brothers who betrayed him:
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good.” (Genesis 50:20)
Paul understood the enemy’s devices—like unforgiveness—and warned us to beware of them:
For to this end I also wrote, that I might put you to the test, whether you are obedient in all things. Now whom you forgive anything, I forgive also. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices. (2 Corinthians 2:9-11)
If the enemy can find an opening in something like unforgiveness, he can certainly find one in a yard project, a hard week at work, or a morning with the kids. We must not be ignorant of his devices! So, what do we do with good gifts—houses, yards, jobs, children, and friends? We don’t reject them. We reorder them. Jesus commanded:
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Matthew 6:33)
Seeking first doesn’t mean seeking only. It means everything else lines up behind that pursuit—in God’s timing and His way. Every one of these good gifts can become a ministry instead of a distraction. My landscaping can be an opportunity to witness to the person running the backhoe or the neighborhood kid who is looking to earn some money. The pickleball court isn’t just exercise; it’s a place to invite someone I’m praying for. Whatever resources and time God has entrusted to me, He didn’t hand them over just for my enjoyment—He handed them over so I could use them for His glory and to advance His kingdom.
We never have to choose between enjoying God’s blessings and glorifying God—God, in His great richness toward us, allows us to do both.
“But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:4-7)
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for the good gifts You’ve placed in my life—my home, my work, my children, my friends, and even the ground beneath my feet. Forgive me for the times I’ve let my flesh turn Your blessings into distractions that crowd out my time with You. Teach me to hold these gifts loosely and to use them as ministry rather than mere comfort or personal satisfaction. Help me seek You first—above the yard, above the job, and above every good thing—trusting that You will order the rest in Your timing. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
