Calling Captain Obvious

Ricky Ketchum

May 13, 2026

Avoid Empty Things

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You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver, since they are empty.

1 Samuel 12:21 (NET)

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This is one of those Captain Obvious type Bible verses.

Which is partly unfair to the verse because there’s a lot of wisdom in the more Captain Obvious-type sayings.

It’s also the reason I like it (I enjoy the obvious wisdom).

This verse is a warning to us about running after the wrong goals in life.

Sure, we want to avoid the worthless & empty sins.

But there’s a ton of things in life that look good on the surface but ultimately prove to be fruitless. Maybe it’s chasing after the latest shiny-object dream … or allowing too many distractions.

I know I’m being a bit vague, but there’s really too many possibilities for me to cover all of it.

I’m betting if you sit and think for a minute, you’ll know what sorts of empty things are distracting you from the best.

So, what do you do with that information?

Make a tiny change -- today.

Nothing huge, just the smallest micro-change you can think of that changes your direction and moves you toward running after fulfilling things.

Something so small it would be ridiculous to not do it.

Small decisions stack up.

A year of small, positive decisions moves you much farther than you might feel.

Turning toward something worthwhile is also the best way to avoid empty things.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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