The Real Culprit Behind Social Media Addiction

Social media addiction has actually become a thing. A recognized problem by many people. Chances are we have all had to deal with it to some degree, at one time or another, if not currently. I sure have, and it's embarrassing to admit it. 

I've often felt the presence of a monster beneath the need to check facebook and tune out the world for a little bit. Like the social media drive was only the ripple on the surface: the evidence of something darker lurking beneath the surface, ready to devour the soul of as many people as possible.

And now, thank Jesus, I know what the beast is.

It has been identified. And its name is...​

Selfishness

Why the constant drive to see what's happening in the world, to see how my likes have built up and the comments are flowing in? It gratifies me. It feeds my pride and makes me feel good about myself, while also giving me a chance to escape, for a moment, from whatever might be going wrong in my life.

Usually Selfishness is not by itself, but side by side with its best friend. Selfishness and Pride, are as close to each other as blood brothers. They enter into your heart through a breach in the wall, fighting back to back, each protecting the vulnerable part of the other. A formidable pair, for sure!

And they go so much deeper than just a social media addiction. I feel selfishness raising its head and controlling so many other parts of my life.

My quiet time.

Time spent with my kids.

My thoughts about others.

The lie that my body is mine, to give or take from my husband at the smallest whims.

It's a long, long list. A sad list, really.

Can you identify? I hope you can't, but if you can, then stick with me, cuz there's more.

I've spent a lot of time asking God to not let me have any idols before Him. I've gone "idol hunting", searching my heart for the one that is keeping me from a sold out, radical relationship with Him. And I've missed it.

Until now.

I thank God for His grace and patience towards us - it is truly unfathomable! He has gently shown me what the idol of my life is. And it hurts.

Because I am my own idol.

It's not what I expected, and it's definitely not what I wanted to hear. It is a mortifying thing to find out that you have exalted your own self over God. And it is a painful thing to throw yourself down from the self-made pedestal.

In fact, it is impossible. But completely necessary. I cannot do it, but God can. It does take work from me though. I have to immediately, and I mean immediately, quit sacrificing my precious time to the idol of me. No more stolen moments from God, from my husband or kids or friends.

It takes time, spent on my face, before God.

Am I making too big of a deal out of this? Just take a look at what God has to say about His people that would not leave their idolatry behind. 

"Hear, oh My people, and I will admonish you; You shall have no strange god in you; you must never worship any strange god. But My people would not listen to Me. So I gave them up to their own heart's lust and they walked in their own counsels. Oh that My people had listened to Me. I would have quickly subdued their enemies and turned My hand against those that torment them. The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves to Him; I would've fed My people with the finest wheat; and with honey out of the rock would I have satisfied you." {Psalm 81:8,9,11-16, paraphrased}

This passage begs the question: "are there any idols in my life that are causing God to withhold His most abundant spiritual blessings from my life?"

The scriptures are full of passages where God laments the fact that He cannot pour out His richest blessings on His people, because they have another god before Him.

​Oh let that not be our story! 

Let us take time to look beyond the ripples on the surface of the water and deal with the evil monster below the surface. It is time to tackle our selfishness and our pride face to face, through the power of the Lord, and reclaim the precious ground that they have stolen!

​Are you with me??

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