Reading
“For which of you intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’” – Luke 14:28-30
Reflection
The major selling point of new technologies is that they can expand our capacities at little to no cost. Just buy the device, and you’ll be able to do things you never dreamed of.
Of course, as we know, there’s always a cost.
Most often, the cost is our attention. We can know more than any generation before us has ever known about world events. We can connect with more people than previous generations could ever hope to connect with. We can completely dismiss boredom from our lives. It only costs our attention. And if we’re giving our attention to our devices, we’re not giving it to anyone or anything else.
There is a cost, and many of us have decided the cost is too high.
At one point in his ministry, Jesus warns would-be disciples to count the cost of discipleship before leaving to follow him. “For which of you,” he asked, “intending to build a tower, does not first sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who see it will begin to ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’” (Luke 14:28-30)
Too often, I have failed to count the cost of “accepting new technology into my life,” to use Felicia Wu Song’s provocative phrase. I have readily accepted the ability to consume content and stay informed and watch videos, but I have not counted the cost to my relationships with God, my wife and children, my friends, and even my own mental health. I know I am not the only one.
Instead of giving our attention to our devices, let us give it to those we love most. Today, when you pick up your phone or turn on the TV, ask yourself, “What will this cost me?” If attention is the cost, consider who or what will not be getting your attention if a device is getting it instead. My guess is that if we ask this, we will find ourselves putting the device down more often than not.
We do not have to give our precious attention to devices that will never love us back. Instead, we can share it with our families, friends, neighbors, ourselves, and God. And yes, giving our attention away to others and to God comes at a cost, but it’s a cost well worth paying.
Prayer
God of abundance,
You give us more than we could ever desire or deserve,
Yet we struggle to steward our gifts well.
Help us to rightly cherish the gift of attention
And give it to those who are rightly its object:
You, our neighbors, and ourselves,
So that we might follow your greatest commandment:
To love.
Amen.
