Last Tuesday a certain public figure made the “life-changing” discovery of eating milk with her cereal for the first time. The topic became a headline that managed to trend on social media and caused a stir on whether or not it should even be considered important enough to be news.
Ridiculously trivial headlines are just one symptom of a growing online culture of focusing on the insignificant. Couples on their phones at restaurants has become a common sight. The average American spends an entire 24 hours a week online.
People would rather snap a photo of their food and share it to social media to garner likes and comments before they would interact with their friends and family. In fact, the 25th most used hashtag on Instagram is “food” with 252.4 million posts.
How should we as Christians and good stewards of our time treat technology? Rejecting the use of technology is not a viable option. Most modern jobs require constant connection to the internet. Social media can be a powerful tool to engage with friends and acquaintances and spread the Gospel.
One solution is to limit the amount of time we allow ourselves access to technology. When the time we allow ourselves to be connected is limited, we are forced to prioritize to do only the necessary things on the internet.
Taking a break from technology can also help believers find time to meditate on God’s Word and pray. With busy college schedules, most students will admit they struggle to find quiet time alone with their Heavenly Father. Rather than filling the small gaps in our day looking at screens, we can fill our minds with fellowshipping with Him.
Along the same lines, another solution is not just to limit our time with technology, but to refocus ourselves on what is important.
God calls us to be different from the triviality of the world in Romans 12:2—”And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
In order to lead a correctly balanced, godly life, we ought to recenter our focus on what’s eternally important rather than on what can gratify us temporarily.
