Firstly I must declare that I'm a Christian who just discovered steemit in less than 24 hours ago. It is not a secret that steemit seemed too good to be true and I have no doubt it will disrupt the social media space. I and many others saw steemit as an opportunity not to be missed. Suprisingly, in such a short time I can feel the effects and the pressure that comes with the thought of the potential on how much money one can make from participating on steemit.
This reality has tapped into the sensitive area in the Christian fraternity ‘the love for money'. If a Christian is not careful, innocent as steemit looks, it can kill the believer both physically and spiritually. Physically, the feeling of having the potential to turn around ones financial position in a way he or she believes is easy many create some emotional pressure on you. This can have stress related symptoms that have been proven to shorten the life of its victims. Spiritually, an overwhelming desire to fulfil money making requirements may force one to abandon Christian life mandatory practices such as personal devotions, prayer, fellowship with other brethren, having quality time with family, etc. I fear for marriages when it comes to money making initiatives. Woman suffer the most as their husbands often stay away at night and give too little attenstion to their emotional needs.
Trust me, I know what I'm talking about. I can relate to the time when Google Adsense and other similar money making options were at their peak. Many people could go out of their way just to get those clicks and earn some dollars. I did too and it ate a lot into my health as well as my relationship with Jesus Christ.
Now, this is a bell to the Christian on the following:
- Don't be money driven. What will it profit a man to gain the whole world and finally be rejected for craving for earthly treasures?
- Love for Jesus should take priority. If steemit takes your devotion, prayer and fellowship time with other brethren, then you have lost your first love. In Revelation 2, we are taught of a Church that did all else that was good in the sight of God but sadly it had lost the first love for Jesus. This is not acceptable to Jesus. Be careful not to put steemit in place of what you used to do for Jesus.
- Be truthful at all times. Whenever you tell a lie, your relationship with Jesus gets disturbed. I just have noticed how people turn to be crazily creative just to get content into steemit. You'll be surprised the volumes of videos that have been created just so people have something to post on steemit. I have watched a few and many are fake and full of vanity, vain words and are purely worthless. This is not expected from a Christian who knows that one day people will have to give an account for vain words they have spoken.
- Social media is also a preaching medium. Never should a Christian compromise on the principles and rules of the Christian journey for any reason. Preaching is not only through utterance verbally but through conduct as well.
- The attitude should be 'if God allows for me to succeed, let it be at a pace that will keep me healthy physically and spiritually'.
I'm on steemit too and this post should help me remember to focus on Christ more than I do steemit. If steemit moves too fast to take the position of Christ in my life, I'm afraid I’d have to cut the line and let go. I cannot, as any Christian should, risk dying physically and spiritually just because of a money making opportunity that I battle with in keeping my rightful position with God.
Contents of this post remain the truth even when I the author later omit these principles. I therefore pray for all Christians participating on steemit to keep the focus on Christ. The world, and I know the spiritual world too, is watching to see how many will abandon their position just so they make lots and lots of money on steemit.
To a believer, this will make sense but to the rest, it might be foolish to no surprise because the Bible foretold us about the other people we live with in the world. Let’s encourage each other fellow brothers and sisters.