This world and what it has to offer as normal living is mostly a lie. It will consume your time with God, God’s Word, and thinking about things of God.
Paul and the writer of Hebrews said: You ought to be on solid food but as it is your are still on babies milk. There should be maturing and growth in our lives. What is considered normal for scripture understanding and wisdom is watered down to basics of faith and limits its application and influence in our lives.
What would happen if we chose to limit our TV – show time, TV – Sports time, Social media time, Scrolling time, etc……??? I think for most this would result in withdraw symptoms. The fact that it is so normal in everyone’s lives it could not have any other outcome. How sad is this?
Like many of you, I often find myself observing the way people live their lives. We notice the behavior of those who share our faith, those who don’t, and even those whose beliefs are unknown to us. We pay attention to both their words and their actions, sometimes marveling at their kindness in the face of wrongdoing or feeling surprised by acts of unkindness that make us question how someone could behave that way.
Often, our own perspectives are colored by personal biases. Our conscience—or, for believers, the conviction of the Holy Spirit—guides us away from certain words and deeds, prompting us to intentionally choose obedience in order to honor and glorify Jesus Christ. Scripture reveals truth; it is powerful, able to discern our thoughts and intentions. God’s Word, when illuminated by the Holy Spirit, speaks deeply to those who earnestly seek it.
This brings us to a crucial question: Are we truly seeking God and drawing near to Him? Do we listen for the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit guiding, convicting, and encouraging us? Is our ultimate aim, while we are here on earth, to honor Jesus Christ in every thought, word, and deed? Are we actively growing in our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word, or are we letting the distractions of this world take precedence over our witness and our devotion to Christ? Are we learning to trust, obey, and follow Him more each day?
The world offers countless distractions that occupy our minds and our time, leaving less space for God’s Word and spiritual reflection. Whether it’s television, social media, sports, work, family, recreation, or simply scrolling through our devices, these activities can easily crowd out our focus on God. It’s clear that our culture has drifted further from God, and this shift influences every corner of our lives. Even within the church, worldly habits gradually become accepted, replacing time once set aside for God with the relentless busyness that our society now considers normal.
The more our lives are filled with these worldly pursuits, the more complacent and neglectful we become in our faith. If you doubt this, just consider how challenging it is for families to maintain daily devotional time. There always seems to be room for the world’s demands, but not enough for spiritual growth, and this gets mistaken for a typical Christian life.
I feel fortunate to have grown up in an era without cell phones, remote controls, the internet, personal computers, tablets, or the endless entertainment options we have today. Back then, television meant choosing between just three channels, and content was held to certain moral standards. People read books, children played outside, and social visits were face-to-face. Outside influences were limited mostly to family, church, school, neighborhood, and town. It’s remarkable to see how much has changed over the past seven decades.
How did our society reach this point? Is it the result of new technology, generational shifts, or the gradual acceptance of new norms? By embracing what the world presents as “normal,” we risk losing precious time with God and neglecting His Word.
Both Paul and the author of Hebrews admonished believers that, by now, we ought to be ready for solid spiritual food, not still relying on spiritual milk. We are called to mature and grow, yet what passes for normal scriptural understanding and wisdom is often diluted, limiting its impact in our lives.
Imagine the results if we intentionally reduced our time spent on TV, sports, social media, or endlessly scrolling. For many, this would cause real discomfort—withdrawal, even becoming upset if they are not available because these activities have become so deeply ingrained in our daily routines. Isn’t it troubling how much this has become the new normal?
