dave k. [on Blogger.com]

Dear Reader,

I write today, not about my usual musings but on a topic relevant to roughly 100% of the people reading my blog right now… the topic of which I am speaking is internet usage.

We live in a new age governed by technology and convenience. Mail is sent and received in a matter of seconds, books and periodicals are often sold digitally, friends are made with a click of a button… what used to be contained in brothels is now easily accessible from the privacy of our own homes.

Obviously some of these contain no positive benefit, but many of them are extremely useful and even necessary. But even the most useful operations have the propensity to distract and consume. According to Webster’s II Dictionary, “amuse” means: to divert. This is a very fitting definition being that not only does it divert us from the monotony of life, but it also diverts us from pursuing whatever is most important to us.

I am a Christian. Therefore, following Christ and what he has declared through the Bible is what's most important to me. Although I'm far from perfect, I live my life in pursuit of an everlasting treasure... momentary amusements/distractions do not further this pursuit, and can sometimes even rob my zeal.

I’m in no way opposed to entertainment, but even if I was… would it be so terrible? If entertainment truly diverts us from what we really should be seeking, shouldn’t every Christian be willing to abandon it in pursuit of a higher joy? Should our superior Pleasure be so easily negotiated?! I've decided to heed Paul’s warning and refuse to become “a lover of pleasure”!

In response to these thoughts, I have decided to take affirmative action to love God and His ways more than I love amusement. Knowing my own sinful tendencies – it’s not going to happen just by this little pep talk: so I am going to make some personal goals to help me accomplish this present conviction.

(NOTE: In no way am I trying to be legalistic with these rules. They are not the Word of God but simply the best pieces of wisdom I can conjure to help me.)

Time Spent on Frivolous Internet Browsing

The Lord has given me 24 hrs out of the day, I think I should be accountable for every single one of those moments. To each God has given a certain allotment of time on this earth, who knows, mine might end tomorrow. Am I using it to the best of my ability? Not always.

Checking Facebook is no longer a simple habit, it's an addiction. Even if someone has done something interesting in the past five minutes since I've last been on – do I really need to know?

 

Also, watching Youtube videos is an entertainment form I've abused far too much, for too long. I've viewed tens of thousands of videos, subscribed to over 60 users (and I keep up with them), and have over 200 favorites (I only favorite videos that are amazing and morally pure.... do you know how rare those kind of videos are? Exactly, I've seen a lot of garbage to have 200 favorites.)

 

How do I intend on solving these time wasters?

I am going to limit my browsing internet usage to an hour a day. My computer makes this absolutely convenient too, I just go into “Parental Controls” and click “Limit time to... 1 hour”.

This plan sounds bulletproof, but nothing is possible without faith in Christ. I believe that He is active in my life, through Him, I expect great victory.

Help hold me accountable. Reply, let me know how.