CONSIDER THIS:

Please read 1st Timothy 6:17-19
and Luke 9:58. Now, I prefer this translation: 'Teach those who are rich...' (NLT) because in today's culture anything that has any 'authority' behind it is often translated as 'blah, blah, blah,' but to teach requires more than just 'demands must be met' it's about walking along side that person and actually helping them to understand.
The assumption is that the scripture from Timothy is for ‘rich’ people-when in fact we are all rich and that’s it’s a matter of perspective. We are blessed by God in all that we have. Consider this: The US is only 6% of the world’s population but consumes 40% of the world’s resources. If you have a vehicle to drive: 92% of the world’s population doesn’t drive, which means you and I are a part of the 8% of the world’s population that has the luxury of personal transportation.
So the question becomes…what do we do with what God has given us? All that we have is God given. In Genesis He commanded us to be good stewards. He doesn’t condemn us for having any amount of wealth, but we should not forget all that He provides.
Each new day is a gift, the very roof over your head is a gift, the very clothes you wear is a gift...nothing you have should be considered 'mine' and done with the understanding/conviction of 'it was all me'.
Here's what Deuteronomy 8:17-19 has to say: ‘You may say to yourself, "My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me." But remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms His covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. If you ever forget the LORD your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.'
So what other 'gods' do you worship? Well if you wake up every morning looking for your phone and the first thing you think about is who you text...then you're not thinking about God. If during the rest of your day, while at school or at work your phone is literally 'attached' to you...then you're worshiping the conversation machine-not a one-on-one experience. While I'm not knocking technology, I know for a fact it gets in the way of our continued growth as Christians.
I would be lying if I said I don't play video games...I do, but not nearly as much as I used to. In a way, I grew up and realized what was more important-doing chores around the house, doing my part instead of consuming and having someone clean up after me when it's my mess. Yeah, I did a lot of that when I was a teenager-I left a mess for my mom to clean up after...you know, when other friends call to go play some basketball.
Ahhh, friends...do they distract? Yeah, they can, but they can also help you in your journey too. What kind of friends you ask? The kind of friends that care about you as a person-who cares about you genuinely, not the kind that leave you when things get 'dicey' or hard and you actually need their time to talk about real issues you're struggling with. Yeah, you have friends like that...
SO CONSIDER THIS:There is more to this life than empty dreams, thoughts of 'what if' and 'why me'...you have a potential inside you that God said was worthy of saving and protecting. You see, you've done it the easy way, the lazy way and all that's brought you is pain and a sense of unfulfilledness.
You see, God knows your hopes and your dreams and he provides all that you need, it's just that you haven't been listening. When was the last time you prayed and honestly gave Him your heart and your commitment? In Jeremiah 29:11 we find out that God has plans for us and sometimes His plans are exactly what we wanted in the first place...we just never realized. So if you feel lost and life has you down...CONSIDER THIS: God has a plan for you...it's time to listen...because you are blessed and able to do more than you realize.