With a personal computer the whole world is literally at our fingertips. There is a wealth of information to be had, and possessions to be purchased all with the click of the mouse. We can look up answers to most any question; get information on our pets and about our own health. It’s a convenience, a time-saver and occasionally, if we spend enough time searching, it can often find us a real shopping bargain. It is a benign pastime, an innocent hobby. Or is it?



In my home, over the years there have been some complaints about the amount of time spent in front of the gadget by certain family members. Our television has also worked overtime along with the computer.

As Christians, we pray for God’s Wisdom in our lives. But some of us don’t seem to be getting any wiser. We know that God’s Word promises Wisdom if we seek it with all our hearts. Since God’s promises are true, if we are among the not-so-wise, the fault lies with us, not with Him. Perhaps if we are truly seeking wisdom, we should prayerfully begin to reevaluate some things in our lives. In doing so, we may find that instead of searching Google, our time might be better spent searching our Bibles.

Doing a Bible search, may reveal to us that there are things in our lives, that (yes I’m going to say it) can become addictive.

We understand from God’s Word that anything we love more than God is an idol. How extremely painful and even embarrassing it is for a Christian to admit the sin of idolatry. But we must realize that if we have a desire for God’s best for our lives (and His Wisdom) we cannot attain it unless and until we repent.

MHCC (Matthew Henry Concise Commentary) says, “Though our religion forbids idolatry, many practice spiritual idolatry in their hearts. For what a man loves most, and cares most for, that is his god: some have their riches for their god, some their pleasures and some their lusts. And many ignorantly worship a god of their own making…"

Clearly, the problem isn’t the computer itself, the internet or any other possession. It is when we develop a personal need for anything that we place before God. At our home we made a decision to have our internet connection discontinued. I do not believe that every Christian necessarily needs to give up the internet, the computer or anything else. But we just wanted to see if we could do it and what would happen.

As a result, our family began naturally spending more time together. We started talking more and praying together, which was something we’d never done. Our relationships improved. We became aware that our knee-jerk reactions to life’s problems were becoming more prayerful and thoughtful (dare I say wiser?) responses. And we noticed that others responded to us in kind. God helped us to identify a potentially dangerous obstacle that had stood between His blessings and us. We came to realize that we would rather have God’s blessings and His wisdom than anything else we could possibly discover on Google.

Eventually, we had our internet reconnected and began using our computer again. In fact I now use it to earn my part of our living. But, we never forget that we are to use it and not allow it to use us.

God blesses His children with many fine things both spiritually and materially. He wants us to enjoy the life He has given us. And He wants us to take pleasure in everything that He has created. But let us never forget that we are to worship the Creator and not His creation.

“But if any man among you is without wisdom, let him make his request to God, who gives freely to all without an unkind word, and it will be given to him."

(James 1: 5. BBE)