The Little Things

I read an account recently: A man's wife had confided in him about some conversations with a female friend. Her friend had been having some commonplace difficulty in her marriage. She had seen a video online that caught her eye about relationships going poorly and had dwelled on it just long enough for the platform's algorithm to decide she'd want more. Before long her social media had convinced her that her spouse was either cheating or would at the first opportunity and she deserved better. Not a single bit of evidence, not on the advice of familiar friends or family, just 30 seconds here and there every time she looked, and the friend was talking to a lawyer.

In Matthew 5 starting in verse 21, Jesus tells us the little things have a way of becoming life-ruining things. A little desire becomes an affair. A little anger becomes a murder. I don't know that there has been a better time for our smallest whims to become our worst troubles.

If you are on social media, the content that you see looks like mine. It is hard to know what causes one thing or another to show up. No matter how much I try to follow good and wholesome things, things that aren't either of those show up. There is always someone telling how angry they are and trying to get everyone else to join them. There is always someone selling something, maybe themselves, who clearly knows what many men will slow down to look at. We don't think about it but those things move us a little at a time.

In contrast to filling our small moments with little bits of darkness, we need to remember the words of Paul in Philippians 4:8-9: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

The peace that we want is in dwelling on those things that are wholesome; those things that God has taught us. We don't get those by accident like we do the world’s teaching. So, am I taking the time to fill myself with the things that will bring me peace or am I filling myself with things that claim to bring peace but actually cause trouble?

- Bryan Norris

#MaysvilleMessenger