You Become What You Pursue

Scripture: They went after false idols and became false… 2 Kings 17:15

Observation: The author describes the reason for Israel’s enslavement and exile—they had abandoned the Lord and pursued evil. One phrase caught me… “They went after false idols and became false.” This word, false, is also translated “vanity,” or “emptiness.” There is a progression here. You become what you pursue. If you pursue the emptiness of hollow priorities, you become hollow. If you pursue shallow goals, you become shallow.

Application: What emptiness am I pursuing? I think one area is television. Jessica and I have some shows we watch together, as we do with the kids. While that is fine, I think we can also easily settle in to the empty routine of television each night before bed. Jessica has been asking me recently about my leadership at home in the area of Family Night. I think I let nights sneak up on me with no planning. I think we need at least one night a week that is TV free for the family—where we play games or ride bikes or cook out. I need to incorporate this into my family night planning.

Prayer: God, I don’t want to pursue emptiness and become empty. Help me see empty areas in my life that could be replaced with things of true value and weight.