A Problem of Progress

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and or marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12, ESV).

I recently did an update on my iPhone. I had been working on getting a few things organized, and doing a couple loads of laundry when my phone notified me of a recent update. I clicked through until the update was verified and the process began. This rendered my phone useless for the next ten minutes.

I plopped in the chair to rest, and after sitting for a few minutes, I began to think about how many things I use my phone to accomplish.

Watch some TV. Can’t do that—need my phone to stream the apps. Text my friend Amy. Can’t do that—need my phone to send text messages. Call Mom. Can’t do that—need my phone to make a call. Update my book sales. Can’t do that—need my phone to access Numbers. Look up items I’m selling. Can’t do that—need my phone to access Google.

As my brain was running through the rolodex of things I wanted to do, I realized just how much our progress of technology has, in a way, created a monstrous problem. Don’t get me wrong—it has brought wonderful things to our society as well. However, for those short 5 to 10 minutes, I was completely disconnected. I had no means of contact, connection, and my ability to complete “to-do” list items dwindled quickly without access to my phone.

While waiting for the update to finish, I looked down and saw my Bible sitting on the ottoman right next to me. I had immediate access to the most important book ever written. Yet, there I sat, giving the phone to my left all of my attention. I’m guilty of this more often than I’d like to admit. A problem of progress.

In 2007, the very first iPhone was released in the United States. We marveled at the technology. People waited in lines for hours, even days, ahead of the release. Owning an iPhone was a status symbol rather than the norm. This marked the beginning of a significant shift in how we access information, and what we look to for truth, entertainment, and so much more.

We are approaching 16 years of life with smartphones, yet we’ve had access to the Word of God for thousands of years. Hebrews 4:12 says: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and or marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

I have succumbed to this problem of progress. I look to my phone first thing in the morning. I use the alarm to wake me up, I check for messages before I ever roll out of bed, and I may even scroll through social media before rising to start my day.

Would you join me this week in reordering priorities? Let’s choose to connect with Jesus first before we communicate with each other. May we study the living Word of God before we scroll. Let us not allow progress to become a problem that shakes our priorities out of order.

#christ #hebrews #smartphone #thenarrowpath #obedience #discipline #jesus