Avoid the Shallows

Juvenal may have nailed it when he wrote of ancient romans that they had squandered their liberty and instead wished only for “bread and circuses.” (Juvenal, Satire, 10.77-81). They no longer cared about the important things in life, only their food and entertainment. They should have worked to avoid the shallows and focus on depth. Modern writers like Bradbury and Huxley have also taken up the same thought in their famous books.

Curiously, about a hundred years before Juvenal, a renown Jewish prophet from Nazareth warned about a bread and circuses attitude. Jesus said, “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).  In other words, forget the unimportant, things that don’t mean much. Pursue things that matter. Go deep. Avoid the shallows.

Although Juvenal wrote in the early second century he could have written yesterday. Think about it, we just spent a month struggling over our brackets during March Madness.  We were excited about a space launch that sent a small group into orbit, not because of great engineering advances but because one of the crew was a famous pop music star. There is noting wrong with following a favorite sports team or a famous entertainer. There I, however, a problem when we elevate such things over much more important concerns like faith and salvation.

Jesus was always about the important business of the father (John 4:34; 6:38). His sharp focus was on saving humanity from sin and securing for them an eternal life of joy in the presence of God (John 12:27). Jesus refused the bread and circuses of his day to accomplish the greater work of salvation for you and me.

Moving from the Shallows to the Deeps

Setting Course to Deeper Waters

To avoid the shallows, a ship plots and sets a course for deeper waters. No vessel ever arrives safely by accident. What is our goal? What is the purpose of our lives and the lives of our children? Now is the time to choose our destination and plan our course.

Jesus tells us we are to “seek,” that is, to desire what we do not have. Paul told the people of Athens that we are to seek after God (Acts 17:27) for that is God’s plan for us. But he added that God is near and can be found.

We can avoid the shallows when we set course for the deeps. When we aim for nearness to God, we steer clear of the shallows.

Steering the Ship

We’ve made great progress in developing auto piloting techniques for ships, cars, and even automobiles. But we still demand a hand on the wheel. When I board an aircraft I always notice the flight deck and the pilot and first officer. Can you imagine taking flight with no crew? Someone has to fly the plane!

Who flies your life? Who directs your course through stormy seas? Ultimately, you do. True, you can hand control to Jesus, but even then, you always have the power to reclaim control and change course (Joshua 24:15; John 6:66). In difficult waters, and our present course is difficult, put the best pilot possible in the wheelhouse. Make Jesus both Lord and Master.

Focus on the Destination

It is so easy to become distracted. The daily menial tasks like paying the bills, cutting the grass, cleaning the house, and prepping that work project, often redirect our attention away from the destination. It’s not that those are unimportant, but they are not the most important.

Any good farmer knows that you must remain focused when plowing, otherwise the row will be crooked. Jesus tells us not to look back (Luke 9:62). If we want to draw near to God, we can but only by making him the focus of our lives.

Arrive Safely

With God in control and a course well set, we are assured of a safe arrival into eternity. There is no question, there is no worry, heaven is ours. That promise is secured by the faithfulness of God himself.

Have you set your course? Are you focused on the most important things? Are you guiding your family there?

I would be most grateful if you would leave a comment below. Any applause, criticism, thought, or request would be appreciated.