This article is a guest post from new CHI Vendor Jeff Wagner.
Technology surrounds us. Wireless networks, portable computers, smart phones, digital cameras, eBook readers – the past ten years have brought tremendous changes to the way we create, access and use information. With such a smorgasbord of choices, the challenge today is in balancing the wonderful benefits of technology with its ever increasing cravings for more of our invaluable time. Our days of bearing good fruit are limited and each wasted moment that produces little or no fruit is forever unredeemable. Does the fruit produced in our lives have eternal value or are we more concerned with conquering and mastering the latest video game?
“For a good tree does not bear bad fruit , nor does a bad tree bear good fruit.” Luke 6:43
Technology opens doors of opportunity. Living in Virginia, our family has connected with other like-minded families from Illinois to Alabama to Scotland via the Internet. We can share prayer concerns and encourage one another through both the joys and tragedies of life. Local churches can extend their reach throughout the world via websites and sermon audio postings. Families and individuals can create products and market them to a much wider audience via well-crafted websites and Internet advertising. With the continued growth of high-speed Internet access and its availability in areas where dial-up was once the norm, the opportunity to impact the nations for Christ is at our fingertips.
Technology opens doors of danger. Although incredible amounts of good information can be found and productive research conducted on the Internet, potential pitfalls abound. Search results can be poisoned with ill-intent via links to malicious software, inappropriate photos or sites filled with foul language. With the freedom to publish almost anything on the Internet comes the impact of the sinful world in which we live. We must be vigilant and responsible in putting safeguards in place to protect ourselves and our families from the dangers that lurk. We need to educate ourselves to recognize those dangers and model appropriate Internet and technology usage in order to properly train our children. Our approach needs to be proactive and preventative so we can avoid the hazards that would infiltrate our homes from exposure to bad fruit, thorns and bramble bushes.
“For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush.” Luke 6:44
Technology is a tool. The same hammer that can be used to build something beautiful can also be used to damage and destroy. God has given us the ability to discern good from bad, so we need to be responsible stewards of the technology tools we choose to incorporate in our lives. He has given us creative abilities to put those tools to good and proper use, all for His glory and not our own. May we invest our time and energies in technology wisely to produce good fruit that will have eternal value.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good…” Luke 6:45
Learn more about Jeff Wagner's company Computer Integrity Services.
