Worldly Cares vs. the Bible

 

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Does Facebook have you hooked?

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18 Still others are like the seeds sown among the thorns. They hear the word,

19 but the cares of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desire for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful. Mark 4:18-19

“The sower went out to sow his seed; and as he sowed, some fell beside the road, and it was trampled under foot and the birds of the air ate it up. “Other seed fell on rocky soil, and as soon as it grew up, it withered away, because it had no moisture. “Other seed fell among the thorns; and the thorns grew up with it and choked it out. Luke 8:5-7

Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2

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One thing I have noticed about Christians, including myself, is that there has been a transition in daily activity from reading the bible to social media.

Facebook gets more time per day than bible reading, which may have been dropped completely, as people come for hours at a time to post and read messages, share pictures and memes, and engage in light chat.

Facebook is easier to do than reading the Word of God.

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Facebook founders admit that from the beginning, they knew its members would experience a release in endorphins when they were notified of messages, and would actually become addicted to Facebook.

It activates the same part of the brain as cocaine.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/12161461/Facebook-addiction-activates-same-part-of-the-brain-as-cocaine.html

This has been named “Facebook addiction Disorder.”

https://www.adweek.com/digital/facebook-addiction-disorder-the-6-symptoms-of-f-a-d/

https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/addiction/how-to-recognize-and-overcome-facebook-addiction/

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/245251.php

Symptoms of Facebook Addiction:

https://www.zdnet.com/article/five-serious-symptoms-of-facebook-addiction/

So, Facebook and other social media is a spiritual TRAP.

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While some activity is ok, connecting with friends, most people overdo it, and ignore God in favor of the social activity.

Believers need to re-prioritize their time: hours reading the Word of God, and minutes checking messages on social media, instead of the other way around.

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God’s advice to correct this:

Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. Col 3:2

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27

Do not love the world nor the things in the world If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. 1 John 2: 15-17

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Jesus / Yahshua is coming soon.

What will He find you doing when He returns?

Thinking about God, or playing on Facebook?

Return to the Lord.

I plan to follow my own advice.

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