‘Pay careful attention to your own work, for then you will get the satisfaction of a job well done, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For we are each responsible for our own conduct.’ Galatians 6:4-5(NLT)
‘For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.’ James 3:16(NLT)
‘Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’ Romans 12:2(NLT)
‘Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. After all, we brought nothing with us when we came into the world, and we can’t take anything with us when we leave it. So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content.’ 1 Timothy 6:6-8(NLT)
‘But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it. For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.’ Ephesians 2:4-10(NLT)
Devotional Content:
To say that social media is a phenomenon does not tell the entire story. Social media has changed our way of life. The opportunities to connect are seemingly endless. With all the good things social media has brought to our lives, there are also negative things that can upset our lives. As millennials, social media is a normal part of your everyday life. Ninety percent of millennials currently use social media, but research indicates that for more than half of these, social media is a chronic source of unhappiness—at least in some situations.* Forty-one percent of millennials still use Facebook every day but are pulling away more and more because Facebook makes many people unhappy as they watch their friends’ highlight reels.** Ask yourself these questions: How hooked are you on social media? How does it affect your life and your marriage?
The comparison game has long been a part of social media. It affected you as a single when you were or were not invited to an event or when you were or were not dating that almost perfect person. Now that you are married, the game is still there; it just plays out in different ways. Someone’s spouse gets a promotion or a new car; friends get a new home or go on that dream vacation; their kids get all the awards and never cause problems. More highlight reels, and you can still feel the pressure to measure up. It’s not like making comparisons is something new. It’s not. People have been doing it since God created man and woman. The difference today is that it can be in your face every minute of every day.
So the question remains: How do we deal with these pressures? The first step for many of you will be to unplug from social media—at least for a period of time. You need to put some distance between you and your feed. Look at it this way: If social media is causing you to be unhappy with your life, your marriage, and your spouse, do you really want to stay in that world? I really believe we will begin to see many millennials back away somewhat from social media as they correlate their unhappiness with their social media usage.
Beginning to reevaluate your social media usage is a big step, but the biggest step in the right direction begins with your relationship with God. It seems we are all vulnerable to letting our world define us instead of seeing ourselves through God’s eyes. He created you and your spouse perfectly. Neither one of you is a mistake. God loves you just the way you are. Nothing you can do will make Him love you more or less. When you stood with your spouse before Him and committed to this marriage for the rest of your lives, His commitment to help you have an Awesome Marriage was even greater than yours. Never let social media define you, your spouse, your lives, or your marriage. That is God’s job. Lean into His definition.
*Tom Pick, “47 Superb Social Media Marketing Stats and Facts,” Infusionsoft.com, January 21, 2016, [https://learn.infusionsoft.com/marketing/social-media/best-social-media-marketing-stats-and-facts.]
** Lauren Friedman, “4 Millennial Social Media Trends To Watch In 2017,” Forbes, December 29, 2016, [https://www.forbes.com/sites/laurenfriedman/2016/12/29/4-millennial-social-media-trends-to-watch-in-2017/#157daa976e69.]
Today’s Challenge:
Together talk about your connections to social media. Where do you need to unplug, and when will you take that step?
Going Deeper:
Together pray that you will see each other and your marriage through God’s loving eyes.
from Challenges Of A Millennial Marriage