With the advent of white goods, non-essential luxury goods, and the increasing purchasing power of individuals (all enabled by the vanity called money which is available in advance through Credit cards), the world has become one big sphere of consumerism. With the advent of eCommerce people can buy anything at the click of a button. Online businesses entice the gullible public with their offers and discounts to retain them as loyal customers. The ads create a frame of mind that people can’t survive without these goods (evils!).

• Smartphones have become one of the (non) essential items that people can’t live without. The apps in mobile phones enslave mankind today – whether it be social networking, health monitoring, or an online game. Believers are trapped in this net (net! / snare) and millions have fallen victim to this smartphone-based lifestyle. Holy Bible has become one of the apps that exist among other filthy and ungodly apps and advertisements. Some believers even boast that they are able to carry this “Bible” everywhere they go – that includes pubs and places of revelry. And very few read it. I believe that the closer your Bible gets to you and the easier its access, the farther you go from it.

• Businesspeople might require one or more gadgets to do their work efficiently. They would have a laptop, a tablet, and one or two smartphones as the need may be. It is sad to see believers spending a fortune to buy these gadgets – sometimes running to more than a hundred thousand rupees unmindful of the fact that the money they are spending is God-given and that they are accountable for every rupee spent. Some buy a smartphone for every member of the family even if this is not an essential item. Older or so-called outdated gadgets become the possession of the younger ones in the family. Each is given a data plan so that everyone at home is seen going around with a gadget – no prayer, no bible study, no family time, and no attention to even the food that is placed on the table – ungrateful to God! They wake up to Facebook, (neither seeking God’s Face nor reading His Book!), remain on Instagram until they hit the bed, and close their eyes with a question mark – WhatsApp? Their whole life is Who? When? Where? www!

• Satan has devised a worldly system that caters to the lusts of his people – the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life. Healthy habits are replaced by trendy ones – whether it be food, clothing, sports, or other lifestyle gadgets. Believers fall into this trap set by Satan and become a victim to all of these. They keep buying whatever they think is good for their eyes; they keep watching whatever satisfies their flesh (Pornography and adult content) and take pride in owning and using the best of the goods (bought at a relatively cheaper price than their neighbor).