Redeeming Technology to Serve the 'Us'

Sometimes we talk about technology as if it were the monster under the bed coming to eat our relationship. We blame our smartphones for our emotional distance, as if the device had a life of its own and forced us to ignore our spouse. But the truth is that a cell phone has no will; the real problem has always been our own lack of self-control and our misplaced priorities.

The apostle Paul gives us a brilliant principle when he says that everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Your phone, your social networks, and your apps are not evil in themselves. They are simply tools made of metal and glass. The real danger lies in allowing these tools to become the masters of our attention, instead of being servants that make our lives easier so we can love each other better.

Let's think about this practically. It is ironic that sometimes we are using technology to do good things, like working hard to provide, serving at church, or even designing an app to help other marriages, while neglecting our own covenant. No digital ministry or technological advancement justifies making your spouse feel like a side dish on the menu of your daily priorities.