Diminishing Distractions

Setting

• Time
  • In 1967, futurists predicted our society would make so much progress that by 1985, the average workweek would be only 22 hours.
  • Technological advancements have enabled people to sleep less, stretch wider, and work more.

• Tech
  • If you look at your phone for 3 ½ hours a day, you have spent over 50 days of the last year on that device.
  • If the average person spends over 10 hours a day staring at a screen, that is almost ⅔ of our waking lives.

• Test

• • We live in a society where worth is attributed to how much attention we can draw.
  • Digital approval notifications provide a dopamine rush, creating dependent and addictive patterns.

Semblance

• Omnipotence – Technology makes us believe that we can accomplish whatever we put our minds to.
• Omnipresence – The ability to connect with anyone anywhere at any time provides a relational facade.
• Omniscience – The opportunity to Google an answer from a mobile device attempts to convince us that we are the keepers of all knowledge.
• Omnibenevolent – Filtering our photos and sharing only our successes makes us appear to be much better than we actually are.

Scripture

What does God’s Word say about digital distractions?

Ephesians 5:15-17

• We do not prioritize godliness in an ungodly culture until we scrutinize how we practically live our lives (5:15).
• Our natural tendency is to drift toward unwise habits of how we spend our days (5:15).
• To redeem our time, we must confront any rival distracting us from using our moments to the fullest (5:16).
• An hour spent on evil obsessions is robbed of prioritizing God’s will (5:17).
• We are in the will of God when our lives are directed by the Word of God (5:17).

Structure

How does the structure of your home enable technological opportunities?

• Access Points – How confident are you that you know all current technological opportunities for your family?
• Bidirectional Communication – Have you considered that people can share things that your family member isn’t looking to receive?
• Accessible Devices – What devices does your child have regular access to?
• Frequented Apps – Do you know what installed apps can do?
• Social Platforms – How aware are you of the type of social media platforms that your family member uses?
• Shielded Places – Is the layout of your home conducive to covering activity behind closed doors?
• Extended Environments – Are you confident that friends and family share your technological concerns?

Steps

• Decide what a healthy technology limit is that keeps you unashamed before God.
• Detox yourself from any addictive patterns that hinder your roles or relationships.
• Defend yourself from technology in proven weakened situations.
• Determine what meaningful habits will replace the mindless ones.
• Divulge your plan to another person for mutual accountability.