Idle Chatter
In all labor there is profit, But idle chatter leads only to poverty. Proverbs 14:23
Almost weekly, I have the pleasure of taking my younger grandchildren to the library for story time. Yesterday there were fourteen children and nine adults (I counted). Most were moms, but there was one dad and a babysitter with several children.
The librarian did a great job dramatically reading books about the alphabet (think about how hard that might be). She is gifted with the children.
I was pretty impressed that only three adults were more focused on their phones than the children or the stories and even then, it was for short stints like they felt guilty about it. They would check the phone and put it away, and repeat. Two of them actually took calls which I will assume were important.
The one I could see from behind was only going to Facebook.
As I was coming home and the “grands” were singing the ABC song and talking about “Chicka Chicka – Boom, Boom!” I thought of this verse, “But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.” 2 Timothy 2:16, and I was convicted.
You see, when I am at the library I can keep my phone out of sight and be “all in.” However, I am as tempted as anyone to engage in “idle babblings” (and “idle chatter” Proverbs 14:23). Though I rarely engage in it on Facebook, I have to confess that I read it.
There are some good things, and some not so good, that come from time spent on social media. There are articles that teach a lot about different topics. If we are discerning in what we read, this may help us to grow in wisdom and understanding. If we are not discerning, it may cause us to be led astray. Not all false teachers stand before us in the flesh, they just keep writing!
As time goes on it has become more and more obvious that social media sites are little more than gathering spots for us to engage in “idle chatter.” Little good ever comes of it. It may lead to poverty in the family by robbing valuable time from those we should be caring for.
Proverbs 14:23 points out that labor has a reward. Idleness leads to poverty. 2 Timothy 2:16 assures us that if we continue to engage in “idle babbling” it will increase our ungodliness.
Sigh. This is not news to any of us. We know these truths but the temptations are great.
For the sake of our children, for the sake of our husbands, and for the sake of our homes and works (Titus 2:3-5), will we exercise self-control with regard to social media? Will we do it when we sit in the library, when we drive along the roads, and when we lie down and when we rise up?
When my kids were little, I remember tuning out on occasion when I felt overwhelmed and tuning into distractions like texts from friends or my social media feed, but I always felt really guilty. One day my little ones called me out on it, and I tried my best to STOP that day. It’s made a big difference on how I parent, and I’ve learned to apply it to other areas in my life, too — in the line at the grocery store, relaxing with my hubby, at lunch with friends. It’s such a distraction from life! I am still active on social media, but not when I’m with others.
Oh Jessica, “Out of the mouths of babes!” But, where you are is where I pray more people will get. Thanks for commenting.
So many parents are missing out on all the precious moments and the times of careful observation of their children at times when they’ll be able to detect actions and attitudes that need addressing. Why? Because the parents are buried in their phones. The children know they aren’t being watched, and so there’s a ruckus as they strive to get their parents’ attention, yet cannot. Children need focused attention to truly feel our love and our commitment to them. Put down the phones, young parents! You’re missing all the best parts!
This is true! I feel like the clanging gong as I keep talking about it – but I plan to keep bringing it up!
Thanks for the moral support, Melinda!
I’m glad we didn’t have this kind of tech when my kids were little. My addictive personality surely would have gone over the edge–the wrong way. Great message. Self-control–something we all need more of. God bless!
Thank you, Nancy. I fear self-control is becoming more and more a lost attribute. Sadly, adults aren’t modeling it so children aren’t learning it. The temptations are too great and you make a good point, our generation would have been just as tempted as this one is. May the Lord help us!