One outstanding way that instant gratification has ramped up in recent years is with the advent and progression of social media. Most of us agree that social media has its perks, but it’s not all unicorns and rainbows. The creators of these applications have designed them to engage the user base in a way that goes beyond briefly engaging the user. The goal is often simple. Those who have worked on these applications have openly shared their intentions to captivate our attention and keep us on the applications for as long as possible.

There is an addictive component to seeing likes, comments, and shares roll in from our family, friends, acquaintances, and even strangers. For most of us, the crowd consists primarily of people many don’t know well. We have become addicted to digesting bite-sized content and exchanging memes with people we often only know superficially! Meanwhile, we find ourselves gravitating to our phones when we’re around some of the people we love the most. It takes deliberate effort to silence our phones and give our loved ones the gift of our attention. When we fail to do this, we are falling for the trap.

Don’t get me wrong. These applications have also empowered many with a platform to share their message with people who wouldn’t have otherwise heard them. It has opened the door to conversations and debate in the public square where those who may not have had a say now have one. It has even allowed us to share the Gospel and conveniently connect with family and friends when we cannot reach out in person. The impact is not all negative, but we often glaze over some detrimental impacts without much thought. Many of our younger generations need more face-to-face interaction to develop communication skills. Online communication and texting have replaced a significant amount of in-person connections. The infrequency of this situation may cause them to struggle due to a lack of in-person connection with their peers. Instead, they live with their heads tucked downwards, focusing on the online side of their world.

Another area of concern, also revolving around applications and social media, applies to many of us. We switch between bite-sized pieces of content across various topics in brief reels, shorts, and clips. It’s become quite rampant, and as a result, our attention span has suffered. Suppose we get caught up in a treadmill of digesting these little nuggets of information back to back without any real connectivity between topics. In that case, it’s no wonder we may find it challenging to focus on things like reading a book or remaining attentive in conversation.

These developments aren’t limited to social media. The ease of access to anything from fast food to online streaming platforms for entertainment puts everything at our fingertips. These comforts and pleasures can deter us from meaningful pursuits when we allow them to run rampant. Most things worth pursuing in life involve a lot of effort over an extended period. It takes a certain level of sacrifice, risk, and delayed gratification to make our greatest dreams a reality. Suppose we get accustomed to the easy way to stimulate our brains and get immediate gratification. In that case, making meaningful sacrifices toward the future rewards God has in store for us becomes more arduous.

We will find more long-term fulfillment in investing for the future than maximizing our comfort now (Ecclesiastes 1:14). For example, every good relationship takes work. We need to figure out how our partners give and receive love, and we need to figure out their communication styles in instances where we may not understand them. We must aim to understand their behavior patterns and exercise the patience to consider their perspective (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). As people, we all grow and develop, so there must be grace to extend to one another as we mature. Who are we not to extend the love, grace, and patience that God has given us (John 3:16)? Sometimes, on the most challenging days, we must choose love. A loving relationship carries sacrifices and risks, but we can say the same thing about almost everything worth doing. If we keep at it together, it’s only a matter of time before you see the fruit of your efforts.

The Christian life is all about sacrifice, risk, and delayed gratification. We sacrifice by taking up our cross daily and serving God (Luke 9:23). Some of us risk our comfort, jobs, and lives in obedience to God’s call (Philippians 2:30). When we obey God in this life, we practice a form of delayed gratification (Matthew 16:25-27). Instead of living for this world’s fleeting pleasures, we seek to store treasure in heaven (Matthew 16:25-27). Rather than indulging the desires of the flesh, lust of the eyes, or the pride of life, we walk in the victory that Jesus Christ gave us over sin and death (1 John 2:16, 1 Corinthians 15:55-56). We prioritize obeying God even when it costs us something because He first loved us, and now we love Him (1 John 4:19, John 14:15).

Does this all mean we must walk in perfection? No. Only Jesus Christ did that. However, it does mean God has called us to serve in a way that transcends this world’s distractions. When we live for the moment, we may enjoy much pleasure. If we sacrifice solely for the luxuries and amenities in this world, we may also achieve those. But the most extraordinary form of sacrifice, risk, and delayed gratification is to live for God by emulating His Son, Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). He calls us to put Him first and make sure this world and everything in it comes secondary to us (1 John 2:17).

Anything we do that involves sacrificing something in this world for the sake of God and His glory will echo into eternity (Romans 8:18). We will never regret prioritizing God by utilizing our gifts, talents, resources, and energy to execute His will. We can only fill the missing puzzle pieces in our hearts through fellowship with Jesus Christ (Ephesians 3:17-19). God has designed us to bring Him glory by being ambassadors for His Son, Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20). Don’t forget your identity in God, and remember that everything you do for Him is eternally meaningful (2 Corinthians 5:17).

May God’s love for you overflow as you serve Him by loving those around you. When we are friends of God and genuinely desire to live for Him, it will not be too hard to make the sacrifices and delays in gratification warranted to glorify Him (James 2:23, John 15:15). Before you know it, you’ll reflect Jesus Christ in more and more aspects of your life as you mature in faith. We all need to surrender our idols and work on ensuring this world’s distractions don’t steal our hearts away from our true purpose (Ezekiel 36:25). Praise God for His help in empowering us to do so!

Interestingly, this unshakable foundation in Jesus Christ empowers us with the grace to pursue His will. We can most assuredly still appreciate the gifts our God has supplied, but we are infinitely better off trusting God rather than our ability. If we cultivate humility, it will facilitate our service to God in light of His calling for us. We will not need to worry about who receives the credit for our actions when we remember that God is our ultimate audience.

When we remind ourselves that He is continuously keeping perfect score, there is no room to worry about the trivial injustices that we face in this life. Man cannot close the doors God desires to open, and likewise, we are unable to force open the ones He wants to be shut. Accepting that this is part of life and embracing each season will help us find satisfaction in Him. Then, when we rest our delight in God, we show Him in faith that we are not over-valuing the things of this world over Him. In other words, we ought to look at God, Himself, as our reward rather than what He may generously provide us.

Another blessing to us is recognizing His sovereignty in the sense that He has perfectly ordained what appear to be imperfect circumstances to come to pass. No matter how good or bad things are, God allowed for those exact situations in our lives for His eternal glory and our eternal good if we love Him and obey His commands (Romans 8:28). He foreknew us and knitted us together in each of our mother’s wombs (Psalm 139:13-15). God knew the triumphs we would celebrate and the mistakes we would make along the way. He even knew the many sins we would commit and struggle with but still saw it fit to call us among His children.

Does this sound like the kind of God who would value you based on your performance? I certainly do not believe so. It is essential not to absolve ourselves because of this line of thinking from doing good works to the glory of God. However, they are more along the lines of a symptom to our being His children and not the mechanism by which we find good standing in God’s sight. Neither do we offer anything other than our sin when it comes to salvation. After all, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ, we are saved (Ephesians 2:8-9). Yet, even our faith is provided in a given measure to each of us according to God’s desire.

As believers, we ought not to think of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3). It is vital to esteem others better than ourselves (Philippians 2:3)! Indeed, this is a radical position to take compared to how the majority of our society operates. If we are honest, it is often an individual aspiration for us as believers to ensure we progress in achieving these Biblical ideals. However, putting ourselves in a position of humility usually opens doors for us to serve others in distinctive ways. It also provides a great deal of satisfaction to look outside oneself to help others instead of exclusively thinking of our well-being (Acts 20:35). It is no wonder that many of our fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ encourage us and set examples for us with this kind of perspective in their hearts.

Once we have tasted the joy and satisfaction offered to us by abiding in God, it is only logical to continue in line with that calling (John 15:4-11). Nothing the world can offer us parallels such blessings. Furthermore, it grants us the unique opportunity to give as if we were giving unto God Himself (Matthew 25:31-40). Of course, this proposition only becomes more appealing when we remember that we are in the business of storing up heavenly treasures in the process, too (Matthew 6:19-21). Is there a greater combined motivation than to know you are directly giving to God’s purposes and positioning yourself by His grace to receive eternal rewards too?

We must often fight for these realities to come to fruition. The walk of a believer is not to be taken lightly. Each of us must count the cost and act respectively (Luke 14:26-33). We need to persevere over obstacles through reliance on God and overcome the waves of difficulty and temptations that come our way. Yet, if we turn to God and His provisions, we will not face a situation that we cannot conquer with the help of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:37). On the same token, it is of great assistance to keep an eternal disposition when we deal with worldly setbacks or trials.

It is with our eye on Jesus Christ and maintaining that eternal position that we come back full circle to the blessing of God’s sovereignty in our lives—reminding ourselves that even in the deepest valleys, our God has a plan for us. While the seasons may be unpleasant at times, there will always be another tomorrow to look forward to as long as God desires for us to serve Him here on earth. Finally, when our time here has run short, we can take confidence in the knowledge that we ran the race set before us with vigor for God’s glory. We can be sure, as believers, our destination ahead of us is unfathomably preferable (Hebrews 12:1-2).

In the end, the believer is truly faced with a win-win scenario, for we know that to live is Christ and to die is gain (Philippians 1:21). Whether we live or die, we are in the hands of a God that loves us, knows us better than we know ourselves, and desires what is best for us in an eternal context. After all, nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:38-39)!

Today’s video explores James 1:1-18. It is my first video for SaviorandLord. Let’s examine the provisions God has equipped us with to overcome all adversity. If we faithfully rely on Him and His promises, we will persevere until the end of our race. As believers, God calls us to high standards. But we cannot achieve anything of eternal value outside of Jesus Christ working in, with, and through us. It follows that we ought to remain humble and focused on our mission here on earth to redeem the time and recognize that all the glory belongs to God.

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