Choosing What’s Best

You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. And even though “I am allowed to do anything,” I must not become a slave to anything.

1 Corinthians 6:12

How much “screen time” do you have each day? Think about all the time you spend on your cell phone, MP3 player, tablet, game system, computer, or television. The average 8- to 18-year-old in the United States spends seven to eight hours a day on electronic devices. That’s about the same amount of time that you spend in school or that your parents work each day.

Is there anything wrong with using a cell phone or a computer? Not in itself. Both of those things can be helpful in learning new things. With your computer, you can do research for your school classes, type in class notes, read about missionaries around the world, and even e-mail them. You can read the Bible online in many different versions.

There are many activities or possessions that aren’t wrong in themselves, but they become wrong because of how they are used. The apostle Paul said he was allowed to do anything, but not everything was good for him. (Of course he didn’t mean things that are forbidden by God.) He also said he wouldn’t let anything control him.

Some things that are beneficial can also become addicting or control your time or your money. Researching topics on the Internet helps you learn and use your brain, but Internet use can also get out of control if you become obsessed with it. Playing a video game might be a fun way to spend time with a brother or sister, but if you spend your homework time doing it, or if you can’t seem to stop until you hit the next level, you might be addicted.

God doesn’t have a long list of dos and don’ts about your electronics—or other activities—but he has given you guidelines to help you make the best choices. Think about what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 6 as you choose how to spend your time this week.

Try keeping a log of how you spend your time. Pay attention to what you do each day, and jot down how much time you spend: being in school, doing homework, helping around the house, reading your Bible and praying, attending church, using electronic gadgets, playing outside, and volunteering. Add up your time at the end of the week. Do you need to make some changes? How does your time chart reflect what’s most important to you?