“Congratulations!”
“You are on a streak!”
“Keep it up!”
“18 days left in Spring challenge!”
“10 out of 16 achievements unlocked!”
My Kindle Fire e-reader is full of encouragement. It keeps track of the number of books and the number of days I read. Then it crows to me about my performance. And I didn’t even have to sign up for this.
Initially, I was bemused by it and paid little attention. But gradually I found myself looking for the accolades. And soon discovered that I was beginning to read to please – an electronic device.
Silly? Maybe. But not harmless. Because the books I’m reading include the Bible and books on spiritual growth. And now I wasn’t doing it for God or even for myself – I was doing it for points. I was doing it for approval. From a machine. Not good.
I skipped a day. And fretted about breaking my streak. Also not good. Time for a reset. And an important question.
Why was I reading? First, it’s a good discipline and I enjoy it. Then, I want to stay close to God by reading His word and the writings of other Christians.
But I was starting to feel proud of myself for the wrong reasons. Very not good.
The Bible says,
So, don’t read for admiration – even if it’s just my own.
(Especially if it’s my own!)
For yourself, concentrate on winning God’s approval …
2 Timothy 2:15a J.B. Phillips New Testament
So, don’t read for Kindle’s approval, but for God’s.
So, read thankfully in Jesus’s name.
So read for the glory of God? Why not?
Whatever you do,
think of the Glory of God as your main goal.
John Bosco
I like the sound of that.
Now I’m wondering if there is a way to turn off the distracting Kindle notifications.
Or … maybe I should leave them on as a reminder of how easy it is to start doing the right thing for the wrong reasons without even noticing it.
And I’m not just talking about reading.
