Article | - 5:25 pm
It’s Important to Know Where to Direct Your Attention to Avoid Falling Into the Traps Presented by Social Media and Other Distractions
Many men take pride in being keen observers, aware of everything happening around them. While this can be a positive trait, some may focus their gaze on inappropriate or illicit content. The consequences of this focus can be detrimental. For instance, some married men may look at other women and engage in extramarital affairs without understanding that these actions can ultimately destroy their marriages.
Men’s eyes are often drawn to their cell phones, computers, and television screens, which offer a vast amount of information at the touch of a button. The problem arises when this endless stream of content also includes harmful distractions, such as addictive games that consume both time and money.
The easy access to pornography on the internet further exacerbates this issue. Likewise, the availability of online dating makes it simple for many men to indulge in affairs and seek extramarital encounters. It all begins with a single look.
The Bible provides a warning from Jesus in Matthew 6:22-23: “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”
An intelligent man recognizes that the eyes serve as a gateway to both good and evil. Each individual decides whether to absorb light or darkness, and this choice shapes their thoughts and guides their actions.
We must understand that our eyes convey information, influence our judgments, and affect our choices. For example, when you go to a restaurant, you often choose your meal based on what looks appealing. Your desire for a dish changes if it doesn’t visually appeal to you. Ultimately, you decide whether what you see is good for you. The same principle applies to all aspects of life: you determine whether your gaze is good or bad.
According to Bishop Renato Cardoso, if your eyes seek out evil, your mind will be clouded, making it difficult to pray. “When will you wake up to this? When will you stop allowing dirt, filth, and darkness into your life? If you went to the doctor with a health issue, and they informed you that your diet was the cause, you would likely change what you eat. But the harm caused by what you view is even worse than unhealthy food!” cautions the bishop.
Are you interested in becoming a better man? The monthly Intellimen meeting is designed for men who want to improve themselves in all areas of their lives. It’s a gathering where men support each other, share helpful advice, and make a commitment to work hard every day to become better husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, friends, boyfriends, employees, business owners, students, servants of God, and members of society, overall, better persons.
To learn more about Intellimen and its upcoming meeting, please visit The Universal Church near you and speak with the pastor, or call 1-888-332-4141 for additional information.
Contributors:
Eduardo Prestes (Translated and Adapted From Original)
