Is Social Media a Helpful Tool or a Crutch? - Daily Hope with Rick Warren - October 9, 2020
Social media has become a double-edged sword, offering a platform for connection and community while also fueling our need for approval and validation. By recognizing the Bible's warning against letting public opinion dictate our faith, we can harness social media as a tool to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ rather than relying on it as a crutch for self-worth.
Is Social Media a Helpful Tool or a Crutch? By Rick Warren
"Don't pay attention to everything people say." Ecclesiastes 7:21 (GNT)
What makes social media so addictive? Why do you have to go back and check a picture 50 times after you post? Why are you constantly checking your phone?
Everybody wants the approval of others. People desperately need to be liked! When you hear the “ding” of a notification, dopamine is released in your brain, and it’s extremely satisfying. Every “ding” feeds your need for approval, and it feels like you can’t get enough.
But the Bible says, "Dear friends, don't let public opinion influence how you live out our glorious, Christ-originated faith" (James 2:1 The Message).
The truth is that public opinion doesn’t have anything to do with your faith. So don't let public opinion decide what you believe, feel, or do. It will never lead you in the direction of Jesus Christ.
The Bible also says in Ecclesiastes 7:21, "Don't pay attention to everything people say" (GNT).
Even when you make the wisest, happiest, most encouraging social media post, some people still will post comments that will not meet your expectations or may just be downright mean. If you make the post because you need a certain number of likes to feel better about yourself, then you are going to be disappointed.
When you’re not living for the approval of others, though, what one person says on social media is not going to make or break you. Everyone wants the approval of others. But living for the approval of One will help you use social media as a useful tool and not a crutch.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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