Even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything. I Corinthians 6:12 NLT
Do technological devices drain the brain?
Along with other teachers and administrators, I attended a two-day conference. One of the keynote speakers was an international speaker who had written two books on addiction to smartphones and other devices. The statistics pummeled us to the edge of our seats and were, to say the least, disturbing.
Gaming, notifications, likes, views. All terms I was familiar with. What I wasn’t familiar with was what happens when any of those things happen. A chemical called dopamine is released that stimulates the pleasure part of my brain. When my brain is flooded with large doses—which happens when overuse of tech devices takes place--addiction occurs. The same type a cocaine addict experiences.
Cutting was another term I was vaguely familiar with. When the tolerance wall has risen so high that the dopamine no longer provides the pleasure it once did, people with an addiction often resort to cutting. This releases a different type of chemicals—endorphins--but ones that give a pleasurable feeling nevertheless.
The percentage of young children and teens, along with adults, who are addicted to smartphones and other connected devices is alarming. In Paul’s day, it wasn’t tech devices but a way of thinking. Some were legalists and consumed with the “can’t dos.” Others were libertines and thought they could do anything now that God’s grace had liberated them. Paul didn’t disagree with the freedom thinkers but proposed that nothing would master him.
Being mastered is dangerous. The only thing that should master us is the commitment to allow God to mold us into the image of His Son—a process that is often painful and lengthy but essential for successful Christian living.
Obedience to what Jesus considered the two greatest commands allows this to happen. Loving God with our total being should become the pursuit that masters us daily. Doing so changes our actions, attitudes, and outlook on life. Combined with this is loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. This, too, will change how we act and react toward others.
Commit to loving God and others more than you do tech devices.
Father, prick my heart and mind so that I desire to serve You and others with my spirit, soul, and mind.
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