THE SILENT THIEF

It’s 6AM, you reach for your handphone ‘just to check the time’ but 30 minutes later, you are scrolling through a friend’s staycation photos at Marina Bay Sands, reading WhatsApp messages, laughing at some TikTok reels, or comparing your ‘out of bed’ appearance to someone’s perfectly filtered morning selfie. Sounds familiar?

We live in an age of endless scrolling, one-click purchases, and constant connectivity. While technology brings wonderful benefits, it has also become a silent thief – stealing moments that could be spent in God’s presence, quality time with our families, and the peace of mind that comes simply by being still.

Modern Martha

In Luke 10:38-42, we read of an account of Martha who was ‘distracted with much serving’. When she complained to Jesus that Mary was not helping, Jesus gently redirected her saying, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’ 

Distractions of today may seem to look different than Martha’s food preparations, but the core issue remains the same. We are so busy scrolling highlight reels, hunting for flash sales on Shopee at 1AM, binge-watching YouTube videos about Korean skincare, childcare, new recipes, or home improvement hacks, that we miss giving our attention to studying the Bible, praying, and doing the Lord’s work.

The Hidden Costs of Digital Age

1. The Comparison Trap

Social media feeds us carefully curated glimpses into the lives of others. We are constantly bombarded by influencers in their perfect makeup and outfits, showcasing their beautifully renovated and immaculately styled apartments or sipping coffee leisurely in some quaint café in Tiong Bahru. Overexposure to such content can create discontentment and a sense of inadequacy in us. When we constantly measure our real life against their ‘reel’ lives, we lose sight of God’s unique plan for us. In 1 Timothy 6:6, the apostle Paul reminds us ‘Now godliness with contentment is great gain.’ Paul knew the secret that eludes us in our scrolling – true satisfaction comes not from having what others have, but from resting in what God has provided. That is why he declares in Philippians 4:11 ‘…I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content.’ Yet, how often do we trade contentment for the anxiety of endless comparison?

2. The Spiral of Instant Gratification

Online shopping promises immediate satisfaction with one click - whether it is that Taobao haul, the latest K-beauty products arriving via Lazada, or browsing Shopee until late at night during their flash sales. But Proverbs 21:5 reminds us ‘The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.’ How many impulse purchases have we made?  Jesus warned, ‘Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses (Luke 12:15)’. Yet, we click ‘Add to Cart’, believing the lie that one more purchase will finally satisfy. Remember Matthew 6:19. ‘Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal.’ Those midnight shopping carts are filled with temporary treasures that fade, distracting us from eternal investments.

3. The Fragmented Heart

Our devices fragment our attention into tiny pieces. We skim rather than study, scroll rather than reflect. Between WhatsApp group chats, TikTok reels, Telegram updates, and constant notifications, our minds never find rest. Yet, God calls us to love Him.

with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:30) – a wholeness that requires focused, uninterrupted time. Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28, ‘Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.’ But how can we hear His invitation when notifications drown out His voice? The Psalmist knew the secret – ‘Be still, and know that I am God…’ (Psalm 46:10). Stillness is the very thing our digital age has stolen from us, yet this is the very thing that our souls desperately need to draw nearer to God.

4. The Physical and Emotional Toll

Hours of screen time can take a real toll on our bodies. Eye strain, neck pain, headaches, insomnia, and the sedentary lifestyle that comes with endless scrolling affects our physical health. But the damage goes deeper than the physical. Constant exposure to curated perfection breeds anxiety and depression, comparison steals our joy and the dopamine hits from notifications create addictive patterns that leave us feeling restless. We were created for movement, for looking up at creation, for using our hands for more than just swiping, and for peace that surpasses understanding – not the anxiety that comes from digital overload. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us, ‘Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?’ Moreover, in Philippians 4:7, we are reminded, ‘and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’. But this peace cannot co-exist with the constant mental chaos of digital consumption.

Biblical Women who Chose Wisely

The Bible offers us beautiful examples of women who understood the sacred value of time and chose to invest it wisely. Take for instance, Mary of Bethany (Luke 10:38- 42), who sat at Jesus’ feet with a deep hunger for God’s word and a devoted heart to learn from her Saviour. She wisely recognised that listening to His teaching was the most valuable use of her time. The woman in Proverbs 31 managed her household with strategic wisdom and maintained physical strength through active living; not passive consumption (Proverbs 31:17, 27). Hannah, in her deepest distress, poured out her heart before God in focused prayer rather than seeking distraction, and her concentrated time with God led to breakthrough and blessing (1 Samuel 1:9-20). Lydia (Acts 16:14) used her influence and her resources to advance God’s Kingdom. Her wise stewardship of time and resources helped establish the church in Philippi. Dorcas (Acts 9:36) invested her time in acts of service and compassion for her community. The entire community mourned her death and God raised her back to life through Apostle Peter. These women understood that time is a gift from God, not to be fritted away on trivial pursuits, but invested purposefully in what truly matters.

Your Time, His Glory

I am not suggesting that we abandon all technology, but merely advocating that we use it wisely. Technology can serve beautiful purposes when used intentionally; connecting with family or friends overseas, finding the best deals for household needs, learning new skills, staying updated and sharing church activities, just to name a few. However, when our devices begin to use us; when we find ourselves mindlessly scrolling, binge-watching content, or sitting hunched over screens for hours – it is time to reassess.

Remember, Satan has many devices in his arsenal to snatch unsuspecting souls. Technology is undoubtedly one of them.  The enemy does not need to tempt us with obvious sinful things to steal our time. He is perfectly content to keep us busy with endless, mindless digital distractions that slowly erode our intimacy with God and our families, while also damaging our physical and mental health.

But you have a choice, dear sisters. You can choose Mary’s better portion. Whether you are a busy mother rushing between work and childcare pick-up, a homemaker managing household needs and elderly parents, or a young woman starting out on your career – do not let the thief steal one more moment. Your Father in heaven is waiting, your family is watching, and your soul is longing for the peace that comes only from being fully present to what and who matters most.

If Jesus returned today and asked you to account for how you spent your time this past week, how many hours could you say were truly invested in eternal things and how many were lost to the scroll?