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Have you ever been in this situation? Getting lost in evil to be cut out from your life altogether. Do you play
the next level of your game? Have you ever felt the to escape your daily grind and forget about the world
lure of the next achievement, the next victory, the next around you? Or, is playing a game a relaxing
round, keep you from doing what you think you should rejuvenation that brings you closer to God who
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probably be doing instead? If it’s not you routinely created you? God does give good gifts and wants you
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staying up well into the early hours of the morning to have joy on earth. I’ve met people on both sides:
playing video games, chances are, you know someone those who have given up gaming to follow God into
who does do this. In America alone, over 60% of teens new areas of life, and those who still, on occasion, can
play two or more hours of video games every single enjoy a good game with a clean conscience. If,
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day. Globally, over 2.5 million people play video however, video games are causing problems as a
games for long periods of time, thus earning the distracting time waster that hinders spiritual growth,
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nickname, Gamer. You might be thinking, “So what? Is it’s time to consider whether it’s really what you’re
that a bad thing?” Are video games inherently a bad supposed to be doing.
thing? Maybe, maybe not. Science and politics seem to
be at opposite ends of the board on this question. Time is a finite resource and a gift. The crazy thing
Many blame video games for inciting violence, while about time is that it never stops. You never have
others claim it’s a great outlet for anger. Some view enough of it, and you always think you have more of it
them as a source of laziness and apathy, while others than you actually do. The Bible teaches us to number
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believe video games are a helpful tool that encourages our days because we don’t know when our last breath
being social and working together as a team. While is going to happen. God does. And God, in His wisdom,
some still claim video games cause kids’ brains to not has a plan for us, a journey; a specific story that He
develop properly, others cite video games as a benefit wants us to be a part of. He has specific work for every
for mental development and problem-solving skills. individual that He wants us to do while we have time
What gives? What is the appeal of these video games on this earth. Will you wait around, spending time lost
marketed to people of all ages, across the whole in another world, to figure out what that is? Is time
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world? Why is this $115 billion market expected to spent behind a screen, sucked into a fantasy, part of
keep growing and growing? that plan?

For Christians, to figure out what is good for us and The ultimate answer is that it comes down to you and
what is bad for us, we go to the Bible for answers. your relationship with God. Pray and seek where the
Unfortunately for us living in 2020, the Bible doesn’t Holy Spirit is leading and convicting you about your
have a strict command about video games and the use time and actions. Be willing to roll with and adapt to
of them. It does, however, have a lot to say about what God might have for you. Then talk to spiritually
time. The Bible talks about how we should use our mature Christian leaders and friends for more insight
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time wisely , and use our time to glorify God. The too. Obeying Him to give up or to keep video games in
Bible also has a lot to say about the condition of our your life will require faith. He might ask you to entirely
heart, and how we as Christians need to reflect on how give them up or cut back. He might not. Either way, He
our motivations affect our actions. knows what will bring you massive joy and fulfill His
purposes. Are you willing to trust Him?
Why do you play video games? You need to stop and
ask yourself this question before thinking they’re an

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cmch.tv/parents/video-games/ Colossians 4:5 NLT
2 newzoo.com/insights/articles/the-global-games-market-will-generate-152-1 5 1 Corinthians 10:31 NLT
-billion-in-2019-as-the-u-s-overtakes-china-as-the-biggest-market/ 6 Matthew 7:11 NLT
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www.statista.com/statistics/246888/value-of-the-global-video-game- Ecclesiastes 8:15 NLT WORD ON THE STREET MAGAZINE 11
market/ 8 Psalm 90:12 NLT