We are living in a time where distractions through screens are everywhere. It’s insane that young children already have access to a phone or a tablet at an early age. It is no surprise to hear that the people in your circle have a social media account. Although it has been easier to access the internet and to talk to people online, it has become difficult to foster genuine connections, especially off-screen.
In the context of family, some parents are giving their children landline phones in order to have better communication between them without being worried about being distracted by social media or internet access in general. I think this is a great move because it is so easy to get sucked and stuck on the screen without end. It is said that the global average screen time on internet-connected devices is 6 hours and 40 minutes per day. That is pretty wild, given that we spend much of our waking hours of the day. That number only grows larger over time, whether it’s weekly, monthly, or annually. The scary thing is that you don’t realize it, as you are so caught in it.
The moment you decide to discipline yourself with your time, you start to realize, “Wow, I have spent so much time behind the screen that I have neglected the important matters in life.” This is especially crucial for young people who think they have all the time in the world, given their age, but at the same time, we don’t have tomorrow promised. For parents, this is an important principle to apply to children so that they will learn to have balance in their lives. That being said, how can Christian parents model wisdom and presence in a culture that rewards distraction?
Value Your Time
To begin, we must consider the importance of valuing our time. The Bible says to “teach us to value our days so that we can apply wisdom (Psalm 90:1). The day you are currently living in is only once for all time. There are no repeats whatsoever. The same can be likened to our lives, which Scripture says is like a vapor, it is here for one moment and then it's gone. Therefore, how are we living our lives? As Christian parents, how are your children utilizing their time? And how are you teaching them to value their time?
Yesterday is over, and tomorrow is not promised. We must be able to make the most of it to the present. Overall, we must live for the glory of God. That is our mission as Christians. That is our lifestyle now that we are in Christ. We don’t live for ourselves but rather we live for the One whom we were created! It is the life we are to live because it is the life we are meant to live!
I also think about the Scripture “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die” that the apostle Paul references in 1 Corinthians 15:32, which is originally mentioned in Isaiah 22:13. Paul brings up this verse to make the point that those who do not believe in the resurrection have no eternal hope, thus their only enjoyment is the pleasures of this life such as eating and drinking.
Instant Gratification Vs. Delayed Gratification
When we consider addiction to anything digital, the main thing to consider is that it is all instant gratification. We live in an age where you can easily surf the internet, which can be literally at your fingertips through phones and tablets. Social media, including YouTube, can make one fall into a rabbit hole for hours as you are aimlessly scrolling without end. You also have video games that can waste so many hours as you play with your friends, desiring to advance to the next level, or wanting to unlock the latest skin, weapon and so forth. Additionally, you have porn that has caught men and women in its vice, Christians included.
All of these technological means provide a dopamine rush, which makes them so exciting that everything else becomes dull and boring. However, it also shortens our attention spans, as we gradually find it difficult to focus or study because it is not as stimulating as being behind a screen. We are truly living in the most distracted generation, where instant gratification is prominent, but delayed gratification is placed in the background.
Therefore, parents should teach their children the importance of hard work and discipline. They must also teach them that there is a time for everything, and they need to prioritize the important things in their lives rather than sit on their phones all day. As a family, it is also important to spend time together in cultivating connections with one another and in the Lord. Our time together matters because we don’t know how long we will be there.
Which Master Will You Serve?
In the context of the Christian family, it is imperative that children are raised up in the Lord (Proverbs 22:6) and that God comes first lest there be idols. We know that idols are not limited to statues, as it was back in biblical times (i.e., Baal), but it can be anything that is prioritized above God. Being distracted by technology is an idol as it shuts out God and seeking Him first above all things.
There is no neutral ground in serving God. Jesus says that “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” (Matthew 6:24). Although He is talking about the idolization of money, this can also apply to making an idol out of everything. Although it may be pleasurable in the world’s eyes, it is ultimately idolatry in God’s eyes.
In closing, let us consider what Joshua told Israel in making a commitment to the Lord over idols. The Scripture states:
“Choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” - Joshua 24:15
Again, there is no neutral ground in serving God. We either serve Him or not. There is no alternative. There is no plan B. We must serve Him wholeheartedly. I appreciate Joshua’s words at the end of the verse where he says, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” This is the ideal attitude that Christian parents should have when it comes to dealing with a screen-saturated age, by teaching their children to recognize who God is and how much He is to be exalted above everything else. When we put God first, we see clearly what truly matters and let go of what has been holding us back, especially from Him. This world and everything we see is fading away; thus, let us consider God as our reason for living. Rather than spend time behind a screen for hours on end, let us consider spending more time in His presence as we read the Word of God and pray.
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/Annie Spratt
