If aliens from another planet came to earth to learn about us, would they think we worship GOD or Technology?
Using their invisible space suit, they would secretly follow us from the moment we got up from the alarm on our iPhone god, and then take this god to the bathroom to get orders of what it wants us to do today. We would check back with our god every few minutes to pay homage to it and make sure it has our attention. We’d keep it close to us at all times during the day so as not to anger it. We would find knowledge and joy from it and from other gods like our computer and TV gods. We would even listen to it tell us where to drive, what to eat, and when to go to bed. Then at the end of the day, we put our god next to our bed to keep us safe while we sleep.
Or would these space aliens see us rise in the morning and the first thing we do (after getting coffee) would be to stop and bow our heads and talk with the one true GOD of the universe? Would they see millions of people seeking wisdom from the same book and letting that direct our words and deeds all day long? Would they see us make time to invest in other people by putting away our phones and other electronic distractions and giving them our full attention when we are together?
If they were following you, which one would they see?
Technology is Good – but it’s not GOD
I like technology and most of us make a living in the tech world. It’s not evil but we must protect from being a slave to it, or even giving it a priority over GOD and how He has called us to live. Tech can be useful in many ways but it also has a subtle way of cutting in more than it deserves. Ask yourself these questions to see.
- How often do you look at the screen of your phone each day?
- How panicked are you when you leave your phone at home?
- Do you need your phone with you to go to the bathroom?
- Do you reply to things while meeting with others?
- Do you update your Facebook page at stop lights?
- Do you look at your phone while watching TV?
- Do you ever turn off or shutdown your phone?
I should know because I do this stuff!
I realize I have let technology become way too involved in my life and it has slowly cut into my time with GOD and the world around me. If you are not aware of how this may be affecting you too, try one simple app call Moment. This app will tell you how much time you spent staring at your iPhone screen each day and you will be surprised to see how much time we give it.
This didn’t happen overnight but I found that my tech had crowded into my world and I needed to make changes. I used to get up and read my Bible app but I found it too easy to get distracted by emails that were waiting for my reply or my Facebook app waiting for me to “Like” something. So I leave that in the other room and use a physical Bible so I don’t cheat myself out of time investing in my faith.
I also found tech stealing away my attention when I am with others. For example, I’d be in a meeting and my phone would light up with a text. So I’d take my attention away from the person I’m with to give my attention to someone else. That certainly did not make others feel they matter to me. Now I turn it facedown and keep it silent so I give people all my attention.
We invest our time in the things that matter to us. Our checkbook is an indication of what matters to us and so is our calendar. Our family feels they matter when we spend time with them and this also applies to our friendships and employees. Everyone has the same 24 hours in a day and it’s up to us to invest it wisely. Don’t let your tech rob you of investing in what matters most to you.
How about you? What adjustments do you need to make to keep the tech god from ruling your life? What time have you invested in knowing the GOD of the Bible today? What habits can you change to keep you closer to GOD and others than you are to your iPhone?
One of the reasons we started the DFW Technology Prayer Breakfast was to create a community of technology leaders who are committed to living boldly for Jesus Christ. Our event is once a year but we use this as a catalyst for building friendships that will encourage us all year long.
If you struggle to balance your focus in life you can join our team and surround yourself with others who are striving to honor GOD. Use some of our tech like our Facebook Event page where you can find dates for our next planning meeting or other event. You can also connect and serve with others through our On Going Ministry page, and with business leaders who share your faith through our LinkedIn page.
I’d love to hear what you think about all this so comment below and share this article with others you care about. See you in person soon.
Robert Hunt
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roberthuntceo/