Before I go into different parallels on this question, I wanted to ask you, the reader, what your initial reaction was? Was it: 1) No way! 2) Hmmm 3) I never really thought about that 4) hmmm, okay, I can see where this is going? If you are truly in tune with the word and with our old self (sin nature) and our new self (a new creation in Christ) then you could clearly choose option 3 and or option 4.The reality of the question really becomes what is the writer really trying to ask me. Does it have to be a phone? Can it be a computer, a tv, a car, a person, a cherished item and/or what. The real question is: Are they any people, places or things in your life that are a sin? Now you are probably saying how can a people be a sin in my life? That is a fair question and one that deserves to be answered (not yet). Stay with me, please.
To be in tune with what I am really asking, ask yourselves these questions:
- Is the Lord over areas in my life, or does He control them all?
- Are there idols in my life that I need to destroy or set in their proper place?
- How can I serve two masters?
- Is what I prioritize in my life honoring God?
- If not, why not?
Job 12:6English Standard Version (ESV) 6 The tents of robbers are at peace, and those who provoke God are secure, who bring their god in their hand.[a]
How can people, places or things be a sin in our life? When we put the word of God into this perspective, then the answer really is: easily! Some choose to idolize a movie star, a child, a rock star, and so on. Others choose to worship stuff and assets and things that they covet and yet still others choose to put things before God making all these other things a small "g" (god).
So, back to the original paragraph: How can a cell phone be a sin? Simply put, if it comes before everything else in our life. Seriously, next time you go out to dinner with the family (put down your cell phone, heck, turn it off and leave it in the car) and watch your family. Watch the people around you and watch how everyone (even intimate relationships) put these idols before their very own lives.
Technology is not a sin when we use it for good. However, as humans, not many of us know how to filter, how to time manage and how not to covet what the world throws at us. I know this, because as I type these very words, I am convicted by some of these idols in my life.
So the focus question here for all of us:
Is the Lord the Lord over all of our lives?Thoughts?
Dante