Social media such as Facebook and Twitter, like all internet usage, can be a friend or an enemy of our time. Need a quick answer to or review of anything? Post it on Facebook and someone will surely have an answer or an opinion for you 🙂 It is a great way to reconnect with old friends and keep in touch with current ones.
But it is also a time stealer. Let us admit (even if it is to yourself only) that you spend way more time scanning your newsfeed than you need to. I find that it encourages me to be a busybody (aka a kay poh in local term!) something that the Bible warns against.
“For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies.” 2 Thessalonians 3:11
and
“…that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you…” 1 Thessalonians 4:11
In the 12 days leading up to the Good Friday-Resurrection Day weekend, I was led to fast from Facebook and even from always checking my email. I was feeling discouraged and frustrated about the allergies the children and I have been battling and was crying out to the Lord about it. I knew I had to get back to the Word and seek Him more diligently. But I kept saying to myself, “But I don’t have time!” That has always been my excuse. However, as we all know, if something is truly important enough, we would make time for it. In other words, I was saying, “Lord, heal us but I don’t have time to talk to You or hear what You want to say to me. Just heal us, ok?” 🙁
So I took a hard look at my workload and examined closely the things that sap me of time and guess what? Facebook was a huge thing! Following and participating in Facebook groups was a fun way of relaxing and spacing out after a hard day. But I realised that it was addictive and it really robs me of my time with the Lord, reading my Bible and even reading edifying books and articles.
So I felt convicted enough to do a complete fast from Facebook the 12 days leading to Resurrection Sunday and even from the computer totally for 3 days and 3 nights! Instead of having withdrawal symptoms, I found that I didn’t miss Facebook much! And I was able to finish reading 3 books in that one week!
In the long term, not using the computer and internet totally is not an option for me. But learning to set boundaries and sticking to it is critical for me. I don’t want to waste my time on stuff when there is a certain urgency in these last days.
So that’s been my experience. Have you ever fasted from social media? Computer usage?