Dusty Bibles

Love to hear from and know who is listening

I was listening to Christian radio the other day and the host of the program asked this question. Why do so many people have dusty bibles and shiny new electronic devices? This really made me take a deeper look at my habits. I opened up the settings on my phone. In the section called, digital well being, a very appropriate title I must say, I looked up the amount of time I spent on my cell phone. In one week, my total screen time was 12 hours and 31 minutes. Wow! I must admit I was a bit ashamed that I had wasted so much time. It is my personal belief that the Devils greatest tool is distraction. If Satan was to look me in the eye and say, I want you to steal from your employer, or I want you to cheat on your wife or even worse yet I want you to kill that person that most irritates you, I would without hesitation reply absolutely not! However, Satan is so much more subtle and sly. I don't think twice about the amount of time I spend on social media. I even believe that some of the time I use social media and the internet can be a tool to spread God's message and while it is true that some of time I spend using my electronic device is for evangelism, it is only a very small portion of the over 12 hours a week I spent staring at the screen of my cell phone! Everyone, no matter who they are, has 168 hours a week, and we’re supposed to spend about a third of it sleeping, and then another large amount of that likely goes to work. But in terms of what we call discretionary time, how much do we actually have? And how are we spending it? Scripture tells us to redeem the time and make the most of the time we’ve been given. 

Ephesians 5: 15-17 ESV Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

I must admit that modern technology has really changed me. It hasn't made me into an evil person, a thief, a mass murderer, but it certainly has transformed me into a person that not the best version of myself. Before it became so easy to pick up my cell phone and just google anything I wanted a quick answer to I spent more time talking to my parents and other more mature Christian friends. If you take the cover off my bible the binder is held together with duct tape. Inside the front page I have hand written the verses that are the “Romans Road” and I even have the page numbers written down so that I can quickly find them. I have many hand written notes and highlighted verses in my bible. Now I rely on artificial intelligence and the posts of people that I don't know. I have no idea if the information aligns with the word of God or not unless I stop and take time to get out my good old fashion bible and look it up in God's word. This doesn’t mean that there’s no time for fun, hanging out with friends and family, barbecues, or watching a good movie. Our leisure time can be used in ways that please God.

1 Corinthians 10:31 ESV So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 

So the answer isn’t believing that spending time doing the things we enjoy is automatically wrong. Hobbies and God-honoring entertainment can be an enriching part of an abundant, satisfying, and happy life. If your approach to free time is staring at your cell phone and wasting countless hours on social media, then we’re likely neglecting other important things God has called us to do. Are we building relationships with our neighbors and the people God has brought into our lives? Who are we serving or reaching out to? So put down your shiny electronic device and dust off your bible!

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