Chasing what matters

I spent time this morning checking things that don’t really matter.

Refreshing LinkedIn... scanning my inbox… looking for affirmation, opportunity, something new. None of those things are bad. But if I’m honest, they often promise something they don’t fully deliver.

I'm doing the bible in a year, and recently read in 1 Samuel 12:21, where Samuel gives a warning that is still true today:

“Do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.”

That word… empty.

It’s not just about idols carved from wood. It’s about anything I chase that promises fulfillment but leaves me restless.

And recently, life has reminded me of that.

A friend in our small group passed away.

A student at our local high school lost his life.

Moments like that strip things down quickly. They force you to ask what actually matters…

and what doesn’t.

So what are the “empty things” I chase?

Validation.

Achievement.

Control.

Comfort.

Again, none of them are inherently wrong. But when they become the focus, they quietly pull me away from what matters most.

Because the real profit… the real deliverance… is found elsewhere.

It’s found in my relationship with God. Time in Scripture. Prayer. Worship. Some days I’m consistent. Some days I’m distracted.

Truth be told, I can be in quiet time thinking about emails… or sitting with my family while looking at my phone.

Present… but not present.

And it’s also found in relationships that matter. My wife. My kids. Friends. The people right in front of me.

The good news is Samuel doesn't stop there. He encourages us how we should behave.

In verse 24:

“Only fear the Lord and serve Him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things He has done for you.”

Remembering fuels realignment.

When I remember His faithfulness, it resets my focus. It pulls me back from distractions - from false wins - from things that don’t deliver.

Because the truth is…

The things I check most often are not the things that matter most.

So today, I’m asking myself:

What am I chasing… and is it actually delivering?

And if not… what needs to change?

What about you?

Does change require coaching? Let's talk.

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What's next?

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Thanks for reading and sharing with others!

-Cory

www.corymcarlson.com

www.rise-community.com

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