Monday, February 19, 2024
In my seventh decade, acronyms like DTR are relatively new to me. But I love the thought behind Determine The Relationship! Not only is it a great idea in personal relationships, but it offers amazing opportunities to reflect on our use of technology.
Technological creep has overtaken and overwhelmed us! Most of us use what we don’t understand to help us get what we didn’t know we needed. Ben’s suggestion that we take time to look at how our use of technology is using us is a good place to start.
In Scripture, we see that God wants us to use what he has provided to know him better, not make ourselves great.
Genesis 11:1-4
1At one time all the people of the world spoke the same language and used the same words. 2 As the people migrated to the east, they found a plain in the land of Babylonia and settled there.
3 They began saying to each other, “Let’s make bricks and harden them with fire.” … 4 Then they said, “Come, let’s build a great city for ourselves with a tower that reaches into the sky. This will make us famous and keep us from being scattered all over the world.”
These people used their technology to make themselves famous, losing sight of God. I think it’s easy for us to dismiss this account as ancient history, but there is a lesson here. When we make an idol out of our technology, it’s no different than bowing down to whatever tower we’ve built for ourselves to depend on instead of trusting God for our provision. When we allow our screens to replace time better spent with our family, friends, or God, we take the easy way out.
Screens never ask for conversation, communication, or intimacy. We grow when we encounter challenges and difficulties with people and discuss our thoughts and feelings with them. Just like our physical muscles require strenuous use to grow and maintain strength, our spiritual and relational muscles require engagement and exertion to grow us into the people God has created us to be.
This week, pause and DTR. Determine your relationship with your tech and commit to using it only as a tool to help you know God!
Bottom Line: Technology can lead us to KNOW God or to NO God.
Questions:
Do you dare look at your screen time use? What does it tell you about where your attention is? How does it compare it to the time you spend in God’s presence, serving his goals for your life and showing love to the people around you?
Next Steps:
Take some time to evaluate the content, quantity, and quality of what you’re looking at. If it is not growing your relationship with God, team up with a friend or family member to challenge those behaviors. Decide where you want to go and make a plan to take you in that direction. Limiting your device usage may be part of that movement.
Join a Group to engage with people who care about you and your walk with God.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, it is important for me to remember that you are not surprised or baffled by our technological advances! You made us thinking, creative beings with a drive to challenge what is and dream of what could be. As I move into what is next for me, help me to remember that it all comes from you and it is all for you, to accomplish your purpose on this earth. Help me to keep my eyes on you, because every good and perfect gift is from you. Remind me that because you are good, these gifts are for my benefit but not for my worship. Help me use them in a way that does not distract me from life with you. Only you are worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. Thank you for your amazing gifts! Amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
This post was written by Lauri White, a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.