Chasing Things, Wanting More, Information Overload - How Is It Affecting You?

How is all the scrolling, watching, and taking in more and more information affecting you?

Is it making you want to buy something new? Is it influencing you to want more? Or is it simply eating into valuable time you could be using to grow your life?

I don’t know about you, but I’m in information overload.

I see things, and before I know it, I’m investigating whether I want to buy it, know more about it, or just be entertained by it. And sometimes I wonder, what good is all this information doing me?

Recently, I heard Dr. Phil talking about information overload and what it does to our minds. He called “brain-fry”. We’re filling our heads and our time with things that may not be serving us toward a better, more productive life.

ARE YOU REALLY SATISFIED?

Today, God is saying something to me through His Word:

“Serving God does make us very rich, if we are satisfied with what we have. We brought nothing into the world, so we can take nothing out. But, if we have food and clothes, we will be satisfied with that. Those who want to become rich bring temptation to themselves and are caught in a trap. They want many foolish and harmful things that ruin and destroy people.” (1 Timothy 6:6–9 NCV)

I think there’s so much that’s slowly eroding us. We’re chasing pleasure, wanting more, living for ourselves, and wasting a ton of time scrolling through things that really don’t matter.

And it’s really hitting me hard right now. What about you?

Paul is telling Timothy that there’s great value in being satisfied with what we already have. The Greek word for contentment, autarkeia, carries the idea of having enough and not constantly needing more.

But isn’t that exactly what we’re being encouraged to do every day? Want more, buy more, experience more, and keep looking for something better. Or just scroll, and get distracted - it’s crazy!

WHAT DO YOU SPEND TIME LOOKING AT?

Here’s another verse that really speaks to this:

“Keep me from looking at worthless things. Let me live by your word.” (Psalm 119:37 NCV)

I think this is so relevant. We need a technology fast. We really do.

I know, you may be thinking, I read my Bible, I pray, I do worthwhile things. And I agree. But have you added more time scrolling and less time praying? Less time actually studying the Bible, thinking about what God is saying, and applying it to your life?

WHERE SHOULD WE SPEND TIME?

God’s Word changes your mind, your heart, and your desires. It just does.

Stopping to think about who Christ is, what He did for us, and sharing Him with others — those are things that can change a life for eternity.

And I’m not suggesting we can’t enjoy life, buy things, learn new things, or be entertained. But how much is enough? And how much of what we’re taking in is actually helping us live the life God wants us to live? Is all this scrolling improving our lives? I really don’t think so.

I think that’s worth asking ourselves.

How are you living? What are you desiring? What is getting most of your attention? Are you growing spiritually, or are you slowly eroding?

Because we can be so busy taking in more of the world that we’re giving less of ourselves to God and His world.

GOD, bring us home. Help me be satisfied with what I have and quit constantly desiring more. Help me stop wasting so much time on things that don’t matter. Give me a greater desire for You, Your Word, and the things that really change lives. The things that change my life. I have it all with You. Help me see it, believe it, and live like I believe it. IJNIP amen ♥️