The Danger of Hyperconnectivity

Companion: a person who is frequently in the company of, associates with, or accompanies another




          Many of us are constantly connected through social media, especially us Millennials. We keep connected through Facebook and Twitter, as well as a host of other social sites. It's the hip thing to do nowadays; if you meet someone new, you add them to your friends list. There is nothing wrong with this...it is good to be connected to others and have people to talk to frequently. However, it is my fear that when we are hyperconnected (i. e. have to stay in constant connection with several people via social media) that we neglect a simple, yet very important, thing...companionship. I feel that we get so focused on talking to all these different people all the time that we forget the importance of having a companion (or companions) that we can rely on...and that can rely on us.


          Companions are frequently mentioned in Scripture, as well as in other instances in history. We have David and Jonathan...Paul and Silas...and in more modern times, people like Lewis and Clark. These were people who stuck by each other's sides in thick and in thin. It didn't matter how difficult things got...they were there for each other. The Scriptures speaks plainly on the importance of companionship. For example, Ecclesiastes 4:12 says "though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him--a threefold cord is not quickly broken" (ESV). We are all supposed to have companions in life...people we can turn to in any situation...people who will stand with us through the storms of life.


          Even though it is very important that we have companions in life, it seems like fewer people and fewer people have them. Many people nowadays are so concerned with staying in touch with everyone that they neglect to build deep, lasting friendships with a few. It seems that people go to and fro, bouncing from person to person to person, without staying in one spot for a while so that they can get to know someone really well. In many cases, it seems like people are afraid to hang around long enough to get to know someone. It's like they're afraid that someone's going to let them down if they get too close, so they move from one person to another...knowing them on the surface, but nothing more. Not to seem rude, but that's not even a real friendship...it's more like an acquaintance. Acquaintances won't hang around, but real friends and companions will. Yes, people will let us down...even people that are close, but that is only because they are human, just as we are. However, true companions stick with each other, even when they let each other down or fail. Don't be afraid to get close to someone...they may be the companion that God has placed in your life to stand by your side in every circumstance.

Being Content

Proverbs 30:7-9 - "Two things I ask of you; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that needful for me, lest I be full and deny you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' or lest I be poor and steal and profane the name of my God." (ESV)

The Scripture above was written by Agur and has a simple message: he wanted to be content with God. He didn't want to have too much or too little, he wanted to have just what he needed. That way he wouldn't be boastful in himself if he had too much, and he wouldn't steal or curse the name of God if he had too little. As believers, we should strive to be like Agur, but unfortunately, for many of us, we have a hard time being content. Nowadays, we typically want riches and more than "the food that is needful". We aren't content with only having the food and necessities we need...we have to have more. Instead of asking for God to help us to be content with what we need, we strive for more and more...eventually making it our idol. Now don't get me wrong...there is nothing wrong with having plenty...just so long as you are using your excess to help further the Kingdom of God. However, if you are seeking riches in order to further yourself, you are falling into a trap. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul says, "But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs." (ESV) If we desire to be rich to further ourselves, we are digging ourselves into a pit that is very hard to get out of. If He blesses us with plenty, that's good...but we should give some of the excess back to Him and the church. However, we should never seek to be rich, but to be content with what He has given us. Maybe when we strive to do that we can be more like Paul. Even when he was in prison, he was content. In Philippians 4:11 he says, "not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content" (ESV). Even though he was in prison, he was content in the Lord. Regardless of what situation he found himself in, he decided to be content with whatever God provided. When we learn to be content with what He has given us, we will truly abound and grow in Christ.

God is greater than our problems

          You know, I have found it easy lately to let my problems and issues going on around me to get me down and upset. It can be very easy to be overcome by our problems when we are constantly confronted or bothered by them, whether they be financial issues or emotional issues or spiritual issues or whatever. In those times, however, we need to remember that our God is greater than the problems we are dealing with. After all, He created the heavens and the earth and everything in them. If He did all that and is ruler over all, certainly He can take care of our problems and our needs. He is in control over all and He has promised us in His Word that He will help us in times of need, as I will try to explain below.

          As I was reading the Bible last night, two passages stood out to me that help us to place our problems in God's hands. The first portion of Scripture is Matthew 6:25-34. This popular passage tells us to not to worry about everyday needs such as food and clothing. In this Scripture, Jesus reminds his audience that God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies of the field and tells them that He will also feed and clothe them as well. He then tells them, "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'" (Matt. 6:31). After reminding them that God knows that they need those things, Jesus exhorts them to "seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you" (Matt. 6:33). Rather than worrying about the basic things in our lives, we need to seek God's kingdom and righteousness. When we do that, God will meet those needs and provide us with the food and clothing that we need.
          However, many of us have problems and issues going on that are far worse or more complex than just needs of food and clothing, but God is more than big enough to take care of those as well. In the second portion of Scripture that I came upon, Jesus tells us that He just wants us to come to Him when we are bogged down and heavy laden. Matthew 11:28-30 says "Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." When we are weighed down with problems and other issues, He wants us to come to Him and take His yoke upon us and learn from Him so that we can find rest. He doesn't want us to worry or be stressed out or upset about the problems in our lives, He wants us to find rest in Him and in His Word. When we are obedient to Him and acknowledge that He is greater than our problems, He will give us peace and rest and will help us overcome those problems.

Life is Like a Hurricane

Life is like

A hurricane

Full of pleasure

And of pain

Unpredictable it can be

With trouble and strife

As far as the eye can see

In this world

No peace can be found

Only in Christ

Can we remain sound

Come to Him

And find rest

Abide in Him 

And be called blessed

There is no condemnation

Romans 8:1 "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." (ESV)

I watched a sermon by Steven Furtick of Elevation Church about this verse a few days ago at http://www.elevationchurch.org/sermons and I was blown away. This verse talks about one of the things believers need to know in order to better grasp the immensity of God's love, but many never notice it. Jesus bore more than just the shame of our sins when He died on the cross for us, He also bore the condemnation of those sins. He allowed Himself to be condemned and suffered a humiliating death on the cross so that we could be free. Many Christians know that they will not be condemned when they go to heaven, but fail to realize that they are free from condemnation as well. Because of this, when believers sin, they feel like they are condemned and many times that they are unable to be loved. The beauty of God's love is that He sent His only Son to die for our sins so that we are not condemned. We are supposed to feel conviction when we sin and we are supposed to repent, but we are no longer condemned. We are His children and His righteousness has been placed upon us. It is important for us to always remember that those of us who are in Christ are not condemned because that condemnation has already been taken.

Hello

          Hey everyone, my name is Nick. I'm 21, and I am currently enrolled at Liberty University with a major in Information Systems and a minor in Biblical Studies. I hope to one day have a good job in the computer field and to one day be a pastor. Hope ya'll enjoy reading my ramblings!