Tool, Toy, Or Tangent?

Tool, Toy, or Tangent?

Karen Ehman

I have a love/hate relationship with social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc. I love how they keep me connected to family and friends, and how they enable me to spy on … er, keep up with my kids. It’s great to be able to quickly post a prayer request when accidents or sicknesses occur, and I love reconnecting with friends from my past.

But I hate the way social media can become a black hole, eating up time and energy while diverting my attention from what’s most important. I can get lost in reading trivial posts or worse, caught up in the drama of heated opinion slinging that often occurs on the screen. As a result, I waste time.

As a guideline, I ask myself, is this a tool, a toy, or a tangent?

The Internet in general is a fabulous tool. It can be used for God and for good—organizing meals for a hurting family or participating in an online Bible study. But it can also be used for bad—cyberbullying, extramarital affairs, and airing frustrations.

It can also be a toy. Nothing wrong with toys. We all need a little fun and relaxation. And if we enjoy playing games online, that’s great.

What crosses the line is when any online activity becomes a tangent: a sudden diversion that takes us off track from our priorities and responsibilities. Tangents torch our time, sap our strength, and can cause us to ignore loved ones. Tangents give us a false sense of being productive when, in reality, we aren’t accomplishing anything. Then we feel frustrated, defeated, and even guilty about how much time we’ve wasted.

The psalmist placed his time in God’s hands and asked for deliverance from his enemies (Psalm 31:15). Although he was speaking of enemies who could do him physical harm, we need to realize our tools, toys, and tangents have the potential to harm us too. I’ve had my own tangents that led me off track and caused me to neglect my family and responsibilities. This made me feel like a failure.

Maybe you have too. When you’re engaging with social media today, prayerfully and carefully (with all honesty) ask yourself, “Am I using this as a tool, a toy, or a tangent?” By doing this and setting healthy boundaries, we can overcome the enemy of self-defeating behaviors and eliminate frustration. We can free up time for the important relationships and tasks God has for us and live our lives in a meaningful, not frivolous, way.

Dear Lord, teach me to use my time wisely, in ways that honor You and don’t become tangents. I want to be efficient and effective for Your kingdom’s work. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

REMEMBER

When faced with an activity that could divert your attention or siphon your time, evaluate honestly whether at that particular time that pursuit is a tool, toy, or tangent.

REFLECT

How can you tell when you are wasting time on a tangent? When you sense this is happening, what should you do?

RESPOND

Make a list of things that can morph from a tool to a toy, or perhaps even become a tangent. Now, brainstorm ways to keep those activities in check. Can you set time limits? Solicit a friend to hold you accountable? Take a social media fast to realign your perspective?

POWER VERSES

Ecclesiastes 8:5–6; Ecclesiastes 12:13–14