When Your Phone Becomes Your Idol
By Rick Warren

“‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:41-42 (NIV)

Do you own your phone, or does it own you?

If you’ve taken a really useful tool and made it the most valuable thing in your life, then your phone has become your god. If you’ve allowed your phone to distract you from what is most important, then it has become your idol. The tool has become the master.

Jesus once visited the home of his friends Martha and Mary, the sisters of Lazarus. While Martha busily prepared for the meal and played the part of a good hostess, her sister Mary sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to his teaching.

Martha got frustrated and said to Jesus, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40 NIV).

“‘Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her’” (Luke 10:41-42 NIV).

The Bible says that Martha was distracted by her preparations, which kept her from the most important thing: being with Jesus.

Often, in the moment, you may think you’re focused on the right thing—returning that text, making that call, checking that status, answering that message. But if something keeps you from the most important thing, then it’s taken over your life.

You need to sit at Jesus’ feet every day of your life. It’s called a quiet time. You sit quietly and pray and read the Bible and let God speak to you through his Word. You confess and ask God for what you need and praise him for who he is. It’s the most important part of your day because it affects everything else in your day. It determines how much you get to know God and grow as a follower of Jesus”

When you have to choose between having a quiet time or scrolling through your phone, which will it be? If you’re like the average person, you spend three hours and 15 minutes on your phone each day. How much time do you spend in God’s Word?

Don’t let yourself get distracted. You have control over how you spend your time. Choose to spend it on what matters most.

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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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