I started a self-induced Facebook fast today. Facebook always takes up more time than I plan and I decided today that I would put an end to that. I don’t know how long this will last, but I’m aiming for at least a week. Facebook is quite the time-waster and quite frankly, what’s the big deal about it? Yes, it is nice to keep up with friends that I haven’t seen in a while, but that’s about it. It doesn’t need to waste fifteen minutes or half an hour. I could do much more productive things during those fifteen or thirty minutes. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
Instead of sitting in front of the computer for thirty minutes, I could be cleaning my room, going grocery shopping for my mom, or watering trees and plants for my dad. I could be reading my Bible, exercising, or playing with my dog. There are so many things I could be doing instead of starting at a computer screen.
Lately I’ve been thinking about the value of the things I do. What am I doing that has eternal value? Our lives on earth are merely a speck of what’s to come. And if I’m not doing things that will carry into eternal life, then what the heck am I doing? Because we’re humans, we don’t know what the future holds. Ephesians 5:15-17 puts it into perspective pretty well: “Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” We are called to be a part of things with eternal value all the time because we don’t know what will happen tomorrow. That means reading the Bible today instead of putting it off for tomorrow, or going to youth group or Bible study this week instead of delaying until next week.
Doing things with eternal value isn’t as difficult as it may seem. Going to church, tithing or giving an offering, reading the Bible, going to a Bible study, volunteering or going on a mission trip; all are examples of things that, if done with the right heart and intention, are of eternal value. And occasionally technology can serve a purpose in doing things of eternal value. I’ve had chats with friends over Facebook or Skype about issues of faith and theology. But it’s not of eternal value when I’m looking at a friend’s pictures from a recent vacation or reading someone’s note “25 things about me.” Even though those things are interesting, they don’t serve an eternal purpose.
And not to say that you can’t have fun or enjoy yourself while you’re doing something with an eternal value because you definitely can! I came across an article and the author brought up great points. For example, talking to a friend over Facebook can have eternal worth when that friend asks you about your beliefs. Or while shopping for new clothes, you can do something of eternal value when you donate clothes that don’t fit you to the Salvation Army. Doing things of eternal worth are about serving God and using the gifts that He gave you to their fullest capacity.
I read a few articles while I was writing this and a few of them brought up some thought-provoking quotes. I found this quote while reading about using our money to honor God:
“You and I are stewards. Our wealth is loaned to us by God. We are put in trust with it. We are to use it not to accumulate more and more of what we have enough of already. We are to use it in the service of God and for the benefit of others. If you want to invest for eternity, then invest in people. People last; money does not.”
The other quote was something simple yet so profound. And I think it's a great way to end this post.
“Do something of eternal value everyday.”
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