Answers For A Distracted World

Joseph Prince addresses the pervasive crisis of distraction and its detrimental effect on spiritual health in the modern digital age, drawing on Scripture to emphasize the profound benefits of meditation on God’s Word and the true meaning of godliness. He asserts that focusing on this “one thing needed” is the guaranteed path to success and prosperity in every area of life.

The Crisis of Distraction and the Pursuit of Amusement

Today’s world is characterized by constant distractions from social media and smartphones, creating a continuous need to be updated and entertained. People seek a dopamine release the moment they feel bored. However, this constant pursuit of amusement and pleasure (hedonism) can lead to anhidonia—the inability to experience pleasure.

Technology companies, utilizing attention engineers and principles borrowed from Las Vegas gambling casinos, intentionally engineer their products to be as addictive as possible to extract profit. This addiction is a bondage, forcing individuals to constantly answer pings and messages, taking them away from spending time with loved ones and living in the present. This pervasive influence of social media has been linked by mental health experts to an explosion of anxiety disorders on college campuses.

The enemy uses all this distraction, even legitimate things, to pull believers away from God’s Word.

The One Thing Needed: Meditation and Godliness

Jesus simplified the path to fulfillment, telling Martha, who was distracted and troubled by “many things,” that “one thing is needed”. This one thing is pictured by Mary, who chose the good part by sitting at Jesus’ feet and hearing His Word.

Meditation: The Source of Universal Prosperity

The Bible identifies meditation on God’s Word as the single act that produces prosperity and success in every area of life. It should be a lifestyle practiced day and night.

• The Promise: The one who meditates on God’s Word day and night “shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that brings forth his fruit in his season”. “Whatsoever he does prospers,” including parenting, marriage, ministry, and work.
• The Hebrew Practice: Meditation (haga in Hebrew) involves muttering or silently contemplating God’s Word, revolving a thought over and over in one’s mind. This is the opposite of amusement.
• The Fire: As the heart is musing (meditating), “the fire burned,” which then allows one to “speak with [the] tongue” with power and prophetic anointing.
• The Cow Analogy: The process is likened to a cow that chews grass (reading the Word), brings up the cud (meditates), and chews it repeatedly until it becomes nutrients, strength, and health to the body.

Godliness: The Profit for All Things

Godliness is profitable for all things—spiritual, material, mental, physical, and social—having promise for the life that now is and that which is to come.

• Exercise and Profit: While bodily exercise “profits a little,” godliness is profitable for all things. The word “exercise” is gymnazo, from which the word “gymnasium” is derived, urging believers to “exercise yourself toward godliness”.
• The Mystery of Godliness: Godliness is a noun (not just a verb) and is defined as the “mystery of godliness” which has now been revealed. The mystery is Jesus Christ—God manifested in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen by angels, preached among the Gentiles, believed on in the world, and received up in glory.
• Engaging in Godliness: Exercising oneself unto godliness involves meditating, studying, and reading the life and redemptive work of Jesus Christ throughout the New Testament. It is not about outward appearance, such as attire or avoiding makeup, but about reverence and piety and engaging with the truths of the Gospel.

The Priority of Soul Prosperity

God’s primary wish is for the believer’s health and prosperity, but this is directly linked to the state of their inner life: “I pray above all things that you prosper and be in health even as your soul prospers” (3 John 2).

• The Proportion: The Greek word for “even as” means “in exact proportion to,” indicating that outward prosperity and health are directly proportional to soul prosperity.
• Prayer is Necessary: Even if one’s soul is prospering (walking in truth and love), they still need to pray for the outward manifestation of health and prosperity in all aspects of life, including studies or finances.

God’s Word: Life, Health, and Division

God’s Word is essential for life, just as necessary as daily food. It is not just spiritually beneficial; it is health to all your flesh.

• Medicine for the Body: The Hebrew word for “health” is medicine. Unlike conventional medicine, which may have side effects, God’s Word is beneficial for all your flesh.
• Penetrating the Body: God’s Word is “living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword”. It has the unique ability to pierce even to the “dividing asunder of soul and spirit” (helping believers discern God’s voice from their own thoughts) and to the “joints and marrow”.
• Revitalizing the Immune System: Since the marrow is vital for the immune system, including the creation of blood cells and T and B lymphocytes, God’s Word is able to penetrate the marrow to revitalize the immune system and effect a cure.