Many people have their lives consumed by something or other. It’s not a new problem, but one we need to be aware of, to consider if it impacts us. The problem is of people having their lives eaten up with things that keep them from more important things.
When I was young, before the advent of personal devices in everyone’s hands, it was still quite easy to have life consumed. People had a range of things to immerse themselves in, such as books, music, puzzles, hobbies, sport, television, and so on.
Some of my friends were consumed by their love of motor sport and their need to know the cubic capacity of engines in all the top cars. Several friends seemed to spend their life with their nose in a book. You had to call them back to planet earth to talk with them.
Others were consumed in an unhappier way, carrying the permanent sense of burden over one thing or another, usually anxiety about issues at home, or finances. And there were many who were consumed, at least in their youth, with the need to prove themselves, that they were above average and ready for adult life.
The problem with being consumed by something is that our life is being ‘eaten up’. All the time and potential we have for other things is lost, gobbled by our heart and mind being given over to something far less important. Of course the things that distract us seem important to us at the time, but may not be yielding value in the long term.
I know many people who lost their university study hours due to staying up late playing computer games. At the time the pleasure of gaming seemed a reward in itself, but the poorer grades, lost attention in class and weakening of their health were costs they had to bear. Potential for better things was devoured by gaming.
I think of a man who did poorly at school yet was perfectly intelligent. It turns out that as a child he was traumatised by fear his mother would die and that shut down his ability to focus in class. All those school years were eaten up and wasted because of a deep seated fear.
Today, with ubiquitous personal devices and wide range of social media activities, and with others expecting us to be on-line at their disposal, I see people whose lives are eaten up with constant distraction. It’s now perfectly normal to see a group of friends sitting together but each lost on their own device distraction.
Television once had a similar place, while it was nowhere near so pervasive. Many a person threw away enormous chunks of their life mindlessly watching re-runs of re-runs, or anything else that was on the box, seemingly addicted to wasting their life.
Thinking about devoured lives, consider this verse from the Book of Psalms.
“God consumed their days in vanity (wasting time), and their years in trouble.” Psalm 78:33
Having our lives eaten up and wasted is a curse identified in the Bible. What we see in our own lives and the lives of people and even the culture around us may well be the result of us deserving a wasting disease in our lives, that eats us up.
God explained a range of curses to His people, if they would not obey His commands. The idea of life becoming wasted and fruitless is included.
“I will visit you with panic, with wasting disease and fever that consume the eyes and make the heart ache. And you will sow your seed in vain, for your enemies will eat it.” Leviticus 26:16
Psalm 78 explains why God cursed His people with a devourer. It was because they refused to put their faith in God and rely on Him.
“Despite God’s wonders, they did not believe.” Psalm 78:32
Let me suggest, then, that if people try to live their lives outside of what God has for them God will cause their lives to be eaten up in vanity (a waste of time) and with many things that eat up their time, talent and potential.
That means we bring the curse on ourselves. When we don’t look to God, but think we can rule our lives and solve our own problems we effectively abandon what is good and choose something useless as our source. See God’s commentary on this through the prophet Jeremiah.
“My people committed two evils: they forsook me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed out cisterns for themselves, broken cisterns that hold no water.” Jeremiah 2:13
If you come to the well, the source of good things in your life, and find the well dry, it may be because you haven’t gone to God as your source, but to yourself and to human sources. There is no true water of life in human processes and systems.
What would life look like if it wasn’t being eaten up with empty things that devour us? We would expect fruitfulness, including the fruit of the Holy Spirit, such as joy and peace. We would expect godly things created and established in us and through us, like taking ground for God’s Kingdom. We would expect to feel fulfilled and satisfied, enriched by life, being blessed and being a blessing.
Consider the promise to God’s people at the end of lovely Psalm 91.
“He will live a long life and be satisfied by it. I will show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:16
God also promises to rebuke the devourer that eats up our lives when we follow God’s instructions. And to top that off, God will restore to us the years that have been eaten up.
“I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field will not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts.” Malachi 3:11
“I will restore to you the years eaten by the swarming locust, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army, which I sent among you.” Joel 2:25
Your life is too precious to be thrown away, or devoured by locusts, or all those other things that distract you. I urge you to bring your focus more clearly onto God and His work in your life. Put your trust in Him, and do His will. Be the person He wants you to be. Put off those empty and useless things that eat up your life. Serve Him with gladness and hope.
And expect that God will bless and satisfy you, making you fruitful, and even giving you back the years that were eaten up. And may you be set free from ever living A Devoured Life.
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