In this era of social acceleration, the flood of information from social media, news feeds, and online games competes fiercely for our attention, often leading to an obsession with staying connected and informed. This obsession is evident as many spend excessive time in virtual worlds, documenting their lives for ego inflation, or spectating in the lives of others they will never meet, at the expense of real-world experiences and relationships. The opportunity cost of this distracted time is significant, pulling us away from building our relationship with God and His family. We must question whether we justify this obsession by claiming to keep watch over current events, when our true focus should be on spiritual preparation. Overcoming such obsession requires becoming indistractable, valuing our time and attention as precious currency, and committing to a daily schedule that aligns with our broader intentions and goals. By removing unhelpful external triggers like incessant alerts and messages, and addressing internal triggers through self-control and pre-commitments, we can prevent obsession from leading us astray. Distractions, though not new, are more powerful and addictive today, programming our behavior through seemingly free tools. If we allow these obsessions to take precedence over our time with Jesus Christ and God the Father, we risk a grave misstep in our high calling. We must walk circumspectly, redeeming the time, and daily evaluate the Christian opportunity cost of how we use our God-given resources to avoid being consumed by worldly distractions.

Human nature has a dangerous tendency to become obsessed with certain pursuits, leading to an unbalanced life that can cause one to stagger and fall. This obsession can manifest in various forms, such as gambling, sports, or material possessions, as seen in examples like Mickey Rooney, who lost millions trying to recover a single dollar, or Imelda Marcos with her excessive collection of shoes. Within the church, there are individuals who fixate on prophecy, devoting nearly all their time and energy to seeking prophetic understanding, despite no one having been proven correct in their predictions. This focus is misplaced, as it diverts attention from what Christ deems most important. Obsession with prophecy, though seemingly spiritual, can become a trap that sinks one's spiritual life, pulling focus away from the primary commandments to love God and neighbor. Human nature's obsessive and gambling tendencies, evident since Adam and Eve's fateful choice, make it easy to veer off course, especially for those like the Laodiceans who are indifferent to Christ's priorities. This misdirection is a gamble with eternal life, as it involves pursuing personal interests over the spiritual growth and focus that Christ commands. One must remain alert to avoid obsessing over lesser matters, ensuring that time and energy are dedicated to what truly aligns with God's purpose.

Many Christians fall into spiritual depression due to an obsession with past failures and missed opportunities. They are consumed by regret over wasted years spent outside the church, lamenting their slowness to respond to God's call to repent and overcome sin. These individuals torment themselves with thoughts of what they might have achieved, the joys they could have experienced, and the growth in grace they might have attained if only they had acted sooner. This fixation on "if only" traps them in a cycle of misery, as they dwell on opportunities lost and question their own foolishness and blindness in not seizing God's truth when it was presented to them. This obsession with the past is a subtle snare set by satan, leading to a state of dejection that cripples their present efforts. It is a waste of time and energy to mourn what cannot be changed, as the past cannot be relived. Dwelling on regrets prevents them from living and working effectively in the present, causing further failure. Instead of succumbing to this despair, they must recognize the irrationality of such thoughts and redirect their energy into making up for lost time by acting now. The Christian life demands a fine balance, distinguishing between legitimate regret and a harmful state of gloominess, ensuring that obsession with past mistakes does not hinder current service to God.