Internet, Television, Social Media, Food, and Gaming
Too much of anything is bad for us. As my grandmother used to say, “everything in moderation”. It always made sense to me, but as I get older and wiser I am realizing how true and how important this advice really is. At the time she was referring to the food that we eat. I’m pretty sure I was mentioning how I had just read that eating too many eggs raised your cholesterol, as my grandmother ate the eggs with no concern. She is now 97.
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Scripture:
“those who use the things of the world, (should live) as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.” – 1 Corinthians 7:31
Observation/Application:
The longer I live, the more I am realizing the eternal truth and value of these words. Moderation applies to more than food, but to everything in this world. It applies to the internet, television, social media, gaming, and all kinds of other activities that we find ourselves doing. This is where addictions begin. As Christians we have the ultimate freedom to do all of these things. But when these things separate us from God, then we need to stop doing them.
Have these things become addictions? If so, then we are making them idols by putting them first before God. The bible is clear that “thou shall have no other God’s before me.” God loves us so much, and doesn’t want anything to come between us. Just as a spousal relationship would be damaged if we put something more important than them. When it comes down to it, do we love that thing more than we love God? Tough question for some, easy question for those who know God’s love. For there is nothing that can separate us from the love that God for us. We are really the only ones who can mess that up by taking God’s love for granted and being engrossed by the things of this world.
I’m not sure what age she came to know the Lord, nor the exact number of years, but my grandmother has been a Christian in essence her entire life, almost a century. Because of her devotion to God, her wisdom is beyond measure. Much of what she has said to me over the years has been God directed. She did not quote specific scripture at the time. But I have learned that much of what I considered her wisdom was actually God breathed. While she may have used her words, her wisdom was straight from the Word of God. Today’s scripture is just one of many examples. Her advice was never really about the eggs.
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If we want wisdom beyond all human understanding, let us seek the Word of God. For the Word of God is a fountain, an endless stream of water that brings life. I pray that you thirst for His Word, and that you will have life, and have it abundantly. I call you blessed.
Prayer:
Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your Word. Let us seek you first each day. Let your Word begin a good work in us Lord. Guide our every step, our every thought, and every word that comes from our lips. Keep us from obsessions, from addictions, from too much of anything. Let us have everything in moderation Lord, except for You. For we put nothing above You. Our heart is for You first. Help us to recognize the things that are controlling us Lord. Break the chains of addiction, break the chains of obsessions, break the chains of fear, break the chains of worry, break the chains of disease, break the chains of anything that is of this world world that is keeping us from You God and from the amazing life that you have planned for us. Remove the ceiling in our lives Lord. Take us to a whole new level in our relationships at home, at work, with our finances, our health, with our friendships, in all areas of our lives God. We love you, and we trust you, and we seek you first. We thank you for all that you have done for us, what you are doing on our behalf right now Lord, even though we may not see it, and we thank you in advance for all that you are going to do. We know that your Word never fails, and your promises always come to pass. We thank you in advance, and we receive the blessing that you have planned for us, as we honor you in everything that we do. We give you all the honor and glory and praise, in Jesus mighty name. Amen.
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