Matthew 6:6
Last week, my internet connection was down and it lasted for 6 days. But the worst part of it was the assistance given by the internet provider that came very so slow.
I felt so bored because I can't do anything. My usual habit of checking mails, reading news, and finding new stuff on the web suddenly went to a stop. But I guess what really annoyed me was the fact that I can't write my blog and check the status of my social networks. However, a sudden realization sank in me after my internet connection was restored. Though the cable of my connection was cut down by something as investigated by the ISP, maybe, just maybe, it was God's way of telling me to spend more time with Him.
I usually spend 1.5 to 2 hours of my time doing my daily stuff (emails, news, blog, etc.) on the web during weekdays. That's at around 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM. While on weekends, I go online from 7PM up until 12 MN. Come to think of it, I'm spending 7.5 to 10 hours of my time in front of the computer on weekdays, while I only allot 30 mins to 1 hour of Bible reading daily. Isn't it unfair to my Creator? Shouldn't I be spending more time knowing Him and studying Scripture rather than posting anything pointless on some social networking site? Yes, my thoughts exactly.
As said in Matthew 6:6, we should go to our room and close our doors when we decide to pray. Most of us still do this. But more often nowadays, behind closed doors, teenagers or even parents alike tend to spend more time on their room browsing the web or trying to think of something cool to post in Facebook or Twitter instead of finding personal time with God. Let's all remember that everything was made by Him for Him (Colossians 1:16). He didn't allow man to think of creating the computer, the internet, or even Facebook for that matter for us to just replace Him with something he just created. Otherwise, it will just be plain old idolatry.
Indeed, it's not that bad to enjoy the advent of technology because it is still a blessing from God. People can now communicate easier through email and Facebook. Knowledge is freely available thanks to Google. But just like anything earthly, when we just can't seem to live a normal life without it or even prioritize it over the Lord, it just shows our idolatrous nature. And by what it is said in Matthew 6:6, it is definitely something not worth rewarding.
So, instead of spending most of our free time online, let's do our best to spend more time with God. The Lord wants us to come to Him. He wants us to build a strong relationship with Him. He wants us to know him more. But, if you tend to be so absorbed by the internet when your pc is turned on, I think it's much better for you to be offline.
Reflect on this: How much time do you spend in front of the computer? Compared to that figure, how much time do you read the Bible? How does God help you to focus on Him rather on the internet?
Prayer: Gracious God, thank you for the gift of technology. Indeed because of the internet, everything we do seems just to be a click away. But in the process, most of us became dependent on it, thus, making us idolatrous in your eyes.
Forgive us, Lord, if we spend more time on Facebook, Twitter, or anything that consumes our time. We are sinners indeed. But as gracious as you are, you are still merciful and loving to us. Let us be reminded that nothing is more enjoyable, fulfilling, and worth it than knowing You and Your Word. May we close our doors not to browse the internet more often, but to read the Bible and pray to you as often as we can. So in the process, though we are unworthy, we can experience your rewards by putting our faith in your Son, Jesus Christ. All praise be to you. Amen.
Very insightful and, well, convicting!
ReplyDeleteTo keep us from living life aimlessly, many times God intervene by putting us in a situation that causes us to deeply rethink our live, if not redirect our attention to him.
God commissioned Jonah to go to the great city of Nineveh to preach against it. Jonah’s reaction was normal just like most of us. Like Moses, he must have asked God the rhetorical question, “Why me?” He was not comfortable with the commission so he ran away from God by boarding on a ship to Tarshish. But God stopped Jonah along the way by sending a storm. To calm down the raging storm that threatened to break up the ship, the last resort was to let go of Jonah, to throw him into the sea.
And, the rest is a story of how Jonah was swallowed by a fish. From the comfort of the bed in the deck of the ship where Jonah lay down and fell into a deep sleep, now, he was in an uncomfortable, cramped up, fetal position in the prison wall of the fish’s belly. Jonah might not even know where he was. Three days and three nights in total darkness and on a nauseating ride--that would have been too long for Jonah to wait and see the open world, if ever he could see it again. He had no choice. But in his distress, Jonah prayed to the Lord, and sang a song of thanksgiving.