How many do you have? How many gadgets & gizmos do you have? What are you reading this post on? Computer? Smartphone? Tablet? Some other device? Do you have the newest version of tech available? Now the hard question, why? Why, do you have the devices you have?

In culture today many of us are addicted to our phones. You’ve seen it, probably even been one, a person looking down at their phone trying to read a post and walk at the same time. You do okay for 100 feet, but they something or someone jumps in your way and you smack it; hopefully not face first. In fact, YouTube is full of videos where one person records another person failing at walking and texting at the same time. Some people are so addicted to their phones, tablets and smart watches they are fasting from them during Lent. I wish I had that kind of will power!

Lent is about setting somethings a side so that we have time to pick other things up. You could put down your high tech gadget and live life without social media so that you could pick up a pen and start journaling. You could stop drinking pop and drink water instead so that you feel better allowing you to serve Christ better. There are all kinds of things, good things, that we could give up to get better things.

What is the best thing that you could get in life? The Apostle Paul would say the best thing that you can get in this life is Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippians 3:8, “What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ.” I also like how the Contemporary English Version translates this verse. “Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ.” I could tell you that the word for garbage is not translated strong enough but you get the picture.

Maybe it’s not about having the will power to give up my gadgets? Maybe my ability to put down my tech stuff is directly related to my desire to have Christ? Maybe if I desired Christ more I could easily fast from my tech? Do I really consider my iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch as garbage to attain Christ? Lord help me!

What can you put in spots where I put tech. What do you desire more than Christ? Do you consider that “valuable” thing or relationship worth more than your relationship with Christ? Lord help me and my sisters and brothers in Christ to repent of our idol worship and return to our first love which is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.