There’s a time to look, and a time to look away …

What you choose to look at, and what you choose to turn away from, will impact your life in ways you may not have yet imagined.

Key is having the wisdom to know there’s a time to look, and a time to turn away.

For example, King David wrecked his life by choosing to look instead of looking away. Here’s the story:

“In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, ‘She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.’ Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her. She had just completed the purification rites after having her menstrual period. Then she returned home. Later, when Bathsheba discovered that she was pregnant, she sent David a message, saying, ‘I’m pregnant,'” 2 Samuel 11:1-5.

David didn’t give the bathing beauty a glance, he took notice of her. In choosing to look rather than look away, David set a course for sin that would eventually include arranging the death of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah, in an attempt to cover over his actions.

For King David — as often with us — choosing to look led to sin.

But there are times we should not turn away but should look …

“Jesus replied with a story: ‘A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ ‘Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?’ Jesus asked. The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same,'” Luke 10:30-37.

What are you looking at that you shouldn’t? What are you turning away from that you should be looking at and responding to?

Scotty