“So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).

What comes to mind when I say the word “rival”?

A rival competes for something—and that competition is usually fierce. Perhaps you think about a sports rivalry, like the one that exists between the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. Or perhaps you think about a personal rival. 

I’d like to suggest that love also has a rival, and his name is distraction.

Every day things come at us and which compete for our attention. We get distracted. We go down rabbit hole X, or scroll mindlessly, or get consumed by something in the world of sports or entertainment. We can even get distracted by a career or relationship which has started to take over our heart.

I’m not say that those things are necessarily bad in and of themselves. But when they so consume our attention that we can no longer properly attend to the love we are called to share with others, distraction has won.

If this might be you, ask yourself: Is there something in my life which is distracting me from being the loving person God calls me to be? What is becoming disproportionate and starting to take over?

Think about it. Pray about it. And make a decision to move forward with greater clarity and wisdom.

Love has a rival, and his name is distraction.

So let’s focus.

Notes:

-Bible quotes are from the ESV.