Technological Neglect

I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. Psalm 101:2b – 3a

As I was driving home this morning I came up behind a car that was staying in their lane but was not on a straight line path. It was a shiny, new black Honda Accord. It was a beautiful car so it drew my attention. As I passed it I looked over to see the driver, a young woman, texting. She had her phone at the top of the steering wheel so she could kind of/sort of keep her head up.  I got by her as quickly as I could. I’m not sure she even knew I was there.

When I first looked over I thought she had kids in the back seat but they turned out to be headrests. I was actually relieved about that.

That inattentive driver – when I still thought there were children in the car – reminded me of an article I read in the paper last week about the young mother who put her 18 month old in the bathtub and went to play games on her computer. That little child drowned in the tub where she had been left alone.

All of this was as I was on my way to meet a friend who then lamented that her son and daughter-in-law would not take their two young children to Sunday School and church on Sundays.  They say they know that they should and that the children would benefit but they just don’t want to get up and get the children ready to go and take them.

I had a conversation many years ago with one of my sisters who was teaching in a public school. I had some concerns about my daughter who was a first grader at the time. What my sister said to me at that time has stuck with me. She said, “You are your child’s only advocate. No one else cares like her parents.”

This is now a scary thought with a new generation of parents who are addicted to technology. They seem far more interested in the latest email or text message on their phones or video and computer games than they are in their children or their spiritual growth.  

In Ephesians 5:15-17 Paul warns the Ephesian Christians, “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,  making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.” The time we have with our children is limited. I know there are days where it seems like forever. But, the “will of the Lord” is that we teach them and prepare them to be adults and serve Him. How are we using this time?

Is it wise for parents to use so much of our time on personal technological devices that cause us to ignore family? Isn’t it unwise to take time from wives, husbands, and children to play games with no real value to them? And what about our service to the Lord?  We waste so many hours that when we’re called to a new position of service we say we don’t have time.  

Spouses, children, and other relationships are at the top of the list of what is being neglected while Christians waste their time on our computers and phones. It is also affecting many houses and businesses. It seems that some men might think that because it’s better than being addicted to pornographic websites what they are doing is good.  Who is setting the standard of what’s good?   

The truth is that we who have the power of the Holy Spirit in us can exercise self-control over all things that distract us from putting our God given responsibilities first. Moms need to love their husbands and children and be busy at home according to Titus 2. It is not loving to ignore them to play Spider Solitaire.

A Dad is to love his wife and provide for members of his household. (1 Timothy 5:8). He is to teach his children the Word of God, to exhort and encourage them. (Deuteronomy 11:19; 1 Thessalonians 2:11) That’s difficult when you have to check your phone every few minutes.

I am not trying to say that these things are all bad. A little relaxation is fine for everyone. When the time we spend there gets to the point that other people and responsibilities are being ignored or neglected, then we have a problem and the longer we keep it up, the bigger the problem grows.

In Psalm 119:37 the Psalmist asked God, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” If  iPhones, computer and video games, or texting are using too much of our time perhaps we need to make this our prayer, too.