Encouraging one another is one of the foundations of our relationship with one another. It is very important to any of our relationships because all of us need encouragement. 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing." However, one reason people seldom encourage one another today is cell phone use. We see couples in the restaurant having dinner, and they are all on their cell phones. Even when going to bed, both husband and wife are on their cell phones and hardly have an intimate talk. The kids hardly talk to their parents or vice versa because of cell phones. It used to be that eating time is where good conversations happen, but not anymore because of cell phones. No wonder that many families are now regulating their use of their phones with their families. My wife doesn't like me to use my phone when we are eating together, and I thank her for that. This can be an area in our lives that we can work on in this new year.
The reason God gives us one mouth and two ears is so that we can talk and encourage one another. We are meant to talk and encourage one another and not to isolate ourselves with cell phones. Social media, daily news, and sports updates are good, but when they become a hindrance in encouraging one another or not having a quality time to talk with our loved ones, then it is no longer healthy. It is time for us to control our cell phones, and not our cell phones control us. Let us focus on building our relationships by having meaningful conversations. Having a good talk with someone is healthy in our souls, and I think this is one of the things that we are missing nowadays. Parents and children, husbands and wives, siblings, relatives, and friends need to have good and encouraging conversations again.
Let us make a plan on how we can control our use of cell phones to open doors for conversation and fellowship. When we are urged to check our cell phones during our family and church time, we must not give in to it and enjoy our conversations with our family and friends. Who knows, God may give us a chance to encourage someone who has been going through tough times or receive encouragement ourselves.
Ask yourself these questions for application: (Think through carefully and meditate on the questions while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). Do I use my cell phones more than I talk to others? Why is encouraging others are important to my soul? What are the things that I can do to control my use of my cell phone?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, thank you for providing me with a cell phone that does so many things that I need, but please help me not to be controlled by it to where I use up most of my time with it instead of encouraging others or having a good conversation with others. Please teach me how to use my cell phone in a healthy and godly way. In your name, Lord Jesus, I pray. Amen.