The Audit We Didn’t Expect—Or Did We?

It’s so easy to get ourselves all tangled up in the everyday messiness of life. Life today is far more complicated than it used to be. Between our personal responsibilities, struggles and the noise around us, it’s easy to lose our sense of balance. We often find ourselves overwhelmed, and this is why our patience runs thin. And in moments like these, wisdom fades into the background. It's fitting to say that everything going on has pulled us in many directions at once.

Times have shifted. Things are not the usual anymore. 

There was a time when our focus was mainly on our family and our future. Times have shifted because of technology. Neither am I saying it’s all bad, nor am I claiming it’s all good. Many things in life have two sides, or at least a dual effect. Technology is no exception. That is why we must proceed with caution. We should use it for the right reasons.

Yes, technology, too.

To ponder on it in great detail would make this a long read, so I will just scratch the surface in this article. 

It is common knowledge that technology has evolved in ways that, only in our wildest imaginations, could have happened. It’s amazing how people from different continents can now interact just by being on the same social media platform. We’re all just one messenger call or chat away. And let’s not forget that it doesn’t have to cost as much as it did a decade ago.

True, there are so many perks. These are the things I, for one, am grateful for when it comes to the advancements in technology over the years. I say this because I have family and friends in different parts of the world. The only thing that can get in the way of reconnecting these days is our willingness. Time, for instance, as we have all become busier than we used to. And yes, technology has something to do with it as well—but that is a topic for another article.

Now, let me take you to the core of this article. You might be surprised that I’m leaning toward biblical verses that most of us, if not all, are very familiar with. With all the modernity around us and the extra load we carry—especially as technology helps us do more at work—there is a trade-off. Our lives have become a little more complicated.

 The Dual Edge of Modern Technology: The Trade-Off of a Connected World

Sure, all these things—the modern side of life, thanks to the advanced technology we have—didn’t happen overnight. This leads me to think that, in a way, technology has “groomed” each one of us as it continued to evolve through the years.

“Groomed” is the word that came to mind, because it seems as though it held us by the hand, like a mother guiding her child to discover the world, or like parents gently encouraging their children to spread their wings so that one day we can do things on our own, and with much ease—most of all, conforming to changes in technology. In other words, to be able to adapt, and to do so one step at a time.

I may have digressed a bit, but this is the best way I could lead you to this beloved verse in the Holy Bible—Matthew 12:36–37.

“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:36–37: The Weight of Every Word

Now, isn't that a stark warning?

But, just how does this interweave with technology, knowing that there are two opposing aspects to it?

Well, let’s take a few steps back from the present time.

Back in the day, when life was simpler—when there was more time on our hands—we contented ourselves with getting the news from television, radio airwaves on our way to work, or sometimes from the daily newspaper. We might linger on the stories that made the news, or we might not. It never consumed us. It never stirred our emotions in ways that made those around us hardly recognize us anymore.

There is power in technology and social media platforms over us—at least, that is how it seems lately. We dwell on the news. If something does not fit our perspective, almost instantly, we become a different person. I say this because I know I can be that person myself when I watch the news or react to a situation and later wish I had handled it better, had I only let it rest in prayer. After all, if there’s anyone who truly understands how I feel, it would be God.

There are times when, in the heat of emotion, we let our feelings get ahead of us and send messages, emails, or even vent on the phone in frustration—only to realize later that silence would have been wiser. Yes, this is most likely one of the unintended consequences.

Who would have thought that this could have such a negative impact on society, considering both the positive and negative effects it carries—effects that are being passed on to humanity?

All of these stand in contradiction to what the Apostle Paul teaches in Colossians 3:8 (NABRE)—

“But now you must put them all away: anger, fury, malice, slander, and obscene language out of your mouths.”

Who can relate?

How interesting it is that one segment in the news can suddenly flip a switch. From being a jolly person, we turn into someone uttering words that were once taboo—words we never used to speak, lest we be seen as lacking “class.” 

Perhaps we once refrained from being seen as tactless because we allowed ourselves to recall Ephesians 4:29 (NABRE)—

“No foul language should come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for needed edification, that it may impart grace to those who hear.”

And now, we don’t even care if we run the risk of others overhearing us. It’s as if we have a dual personality, with the other side surfacing depending on the situation.

Watching the news, especially in recent days, it is heartbreaking to see how we have allowed ourselves to react negatively—forgetting everything good, all because in our hearts, things feel as though they have gone overboard.

Why is it that, all of a sudden, we think we must do something, no matter the cost? As though reacting immediately is the solution. We grab our phones and pour our hearts out in the comment sections of pages that cover the news. And there, we continue our frustration—and that’s putting it lightly. Why? Because we feed the thought that we have to win the argument.

Social Media: The Megaphone That Can Make or Break Us

We need to remember that the news has been part of our lives long before we learned to speak or walk. Yet, in all those years, we stayed calm—and that was regardless of the severity of what was happening in our locality or across the oceans. At the very least, we tried to remain level-headed in challenging circumstances.

We need to step back and see things a little differently. We have to do it for our children. We have to do it for the generations to come. We cannot continue living this way—easily provoked and believing that we have the “power” to speak up, especially now that we have been handed a megaphone through our social media accounts.

There is danger in this. If we do not regain control of ourselves, it will certainly spiral down through generations. Imagine, for a moment, the decay it could contribute to society. Morality cannot be set aside. We must let our moral compass guide us on this journey. It is being responsible. It is the right thing to do.

It’s what we should do. There is no working around it. Let us reshape the way our young people think by going back to the Scriptures and recalling Matthew 12:36–37.

How many times have I seen comments on social media that come from “fake accounts”? Fake or not, that is beside the point. Neither conforms to what we have been called to do.

God sees beyond usernames and profiles. 

Who we are online should reflect who we are within...

The Apostle Paul warns us in Galatians 5:15 (NABRE):

“But if you go on biting and devouring one another, beware that you are not consumed by one another.”

Countless people have taken the extra step of creating “alternate” social media accounts—either because they fear being criticized on their real accounts, or because they feel unrestrained to act improperly when hiding behind a fake identity.

God so loved us that He gave us His Word to model our lives. He knew all this would come, for He sees the past, present, and future—even simultaneously. This is another reminder that the Bible truly stands for “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth.”

We were not born with a manual, but God made sure we have His instructions to guide us.

Matthew 12:36–37 cannot be taken lightly. It is in the Bible for a reason. As frightening as it may sound, we should receive it as a fair warning. I am not writing about it simply because I planned to. I felt led to share it because of how things are unfolding before our eyes. If there is one emotion we should feel when watching the news or scrolling through social media, it should be compassion.

Beyond the Screen: Regaining Our Moral Compass

Yes, because many have lost their way. At times, we are that person, too. And if there is one action we should choose, it is love—because it is both a noun and a verb. Let us not be easily carried away by things we once paid little attention to. We can return to how things were. It is a personal choice.

“Love does no evil to the neighbor; hence, love is the fulfillment of the law.” —Romans 13:10 (NABRE)

Would we rather speak words we know will cost us—both in this life and in the next? My personal answer is a big “NO.”

This reminder is for everyone, including those in positions of influence. We are all human, and we all need God’s grace to speak with wisdom and love. This is a journey we are all in together. Let's guide, not blind others.

So, may God help us guard our words and use them to heal, not harm because the BIBLE is strong in its message to love one another.

Thank you for reading! If these stories speak to your heart, I’d love to connect with you more personally. I share beyond blogging moments on  on Facebook.

If you enjoyed this, you might also like "It's When I'm Weak, then I'm Strong." It's the article that explains how weakness is not failure, but an opening for God’s strength. Another one is "Corrected in Love, Not Shamed."

Many Blessings, Emilie