Epaggelia

1. TIME is a gift, you can’t earn it, or take it for granted. The average U.S. adult watches more than 4 hours of television a day. That’s 25 percent of waking time spent every day. Imagine if you suddenly had 25 percent more time — that’s three extra months per year! God says through Peter.  As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 1st Peter 4:10

2. The time we lose while watching TV, means that we do not get to do what we really should be doing, this causes STRESS! When we feel overwhelmed, tired, and exhausted we don’t have energy for anything but — you guessed it — watch TV. It is a dreadful cycle. So take a break from TV for a week and see what happens to your life. Even Jesus needed time to rest. And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. Mark 6:31

3. Don’t believe the lie, that says we are relaxing when watching TV — your mind is still receiving stimuli from the TV, you are processing information and REACTING emotionally. Moderate exercise leads us to real relaxation. God says, “Bodily exercise profits little” and “godliness is great gain”, so get the most of life God gave us and live right. 1st Timothy 4:8 & 6:6.

4. The University of Massachusetts proved that people eat between 31 and 74 percent MORE CALORIES while watching TV. This could add, on average, about 300 calories extra per meal. When at least 40 percent of families watch TV while eating dinner. It becomes clear that TV is a big part of the obesity epidemic in the U.S. and that TV, in fact, makes us gain weight!  God’s wisdom dictates that “moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power”.   Proverbs 16:32.

5. Many people have whole conversations that are recaps of TV programs, sporting events, etc, don’t let your life be fake. When asked about our REAL lives, there is little or nothing to report. Life is too interesting and wonderful to spend your time either watching TV or recapping television to your friends. Find something interesting to do: volunteer at church, read to a child, paint — anything but watch more TV. God says through Paul, “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, 2nd Thessalonians 3:7

6. Sitting together with someone and watching TV does not grow a RELATIONSHIP. Turn that TV off and find something to do together. Talk about reality! God says, “All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 2nd Corinthians 5:18.

7. Watching TV can isolate us. Nothing is going to change in our world if we are watching TV. Turn off the TV, go out into the world, talk to people, and see what happens! God can use us in a greater way. God says “…as you have opportunity, do good…” Galatians 6:10. But what if we are robbing ourselves of opportunities?

8. If the idea of giving up TV for a week is horrifying, you may be ADDICTED to television. TV addiction is a habit and can become like a physical addiction. We should be able to control it once you are aware of the problem and make a decision to change. God says that we should, “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,  2nd Corinthians 10:5.

9. By age 65, the average American has seen 2 million commercials. Need less, by watching less TV. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2nd Corinthians 9:8

10. A basic cable package costs $43 per month and many packages cost much more than that. That comes to at least $500 a year spent on TV. For that much money you could buy a membership to every zoo in Arizona, or donate more to church! If you invest it every year in a bank, you could have thousands! TV WASTES money! Can we afford to pretend that God doesn’t care about money?  God says “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, in their eagerness to get rich, have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with much pain. 1st Timothy 6:10.